ABUJA: The Nigeria Custom Service says it has intercepted over 470 firearms smuggled into the country at Tin-Can Island port, Lagos. According to Customs Comptroller General, Hameed Ali, the 470 pump action rifles were imported from Turkey. He says they were concealed as Elbow Plumbing Plastics. “Following increased arms seizures in recent times, the Customs Area Controller of Tin-Can Port, Comptroller Yusuf Bashar, ordered a detailed profile of all imports, especially those coming from Turkey.” Hameed Ali said
“Customs decided to follow profiling approach of 100 per cent examination on containers, especially those from Turkey. “Tin-Can Customs command intercepted another 20ft container No CMAUI817/8 containing 470 pump action rifles immediately the container landed from the port of origin to Nigerian ports. “The terminal operator was consequently directed to quarantine the container for analysis. “The container was later transferred to Enforcement Unit of the command where 100 per cent examination revealed it contained 470 pump action rifles.” This is the fourth time the customs is intercepting large cache of weapons in Lagos. Earlier this year, the commission discovered over 650 Pump Action Rifles concealed in iron doors and other goods shipped into the country from China. Till date, no one has publicly claimed ownership of the shipment. Also in March, the customs seized 404 rifles falsely concealed as a Plaster of Paris. The rifles were also imported from Turkey.
