Fidelia Okafor

A container concealed with arms, ammunition, military uniform and gas mask has been seized by the Nigerian Customs.

The Customs also arrested the supposed customs clearing agent Mr Christian Mbachi who was also paraded by the Tin Can Island Port Customs Command, Lagos.

The Controller of the Customs in Tin Can, Mr Yusuf Bashar, who disclosed the seizure said the dangerous weapons were neatly concealed in the container to avoid discovery by his men.

Among the items include 10 live ammunition, one American tactical rifle and another American Pump action rifle, 7,500 pieces of pallets, army boots and nine pieces of bullet proof vests well packaged not to be noticed.

They were all concealed in two cars, a 2004 Toyota Camry model and 2007 model NISSAN Armada jeep.

The Customs Command had handed over the dangerous items to the Department of State Security in Lagos.

At the handover ceremony, Bashar said it was for the DSS to continue its own investigation and other actions from there.

Bashar expressed surprise that some Nigerians who travel out of the country could be coming back with such dangerous consignment.

The items were discovered in November 29, when the Service began the manhunt for those behind the importation.

It was following this that the agent was arrested, while the importer has been on the run.

The Controller expressed shock at the discovery, saying that it would have wrecked havoc to the society if not discovered by officers and men of his command.

He said that the first clue to the danger of the consignment came when his officers had first discovered the gas mask, adding that this made him to order for a thorough examination.

Bashar advised Nigerians to do this country proud by bringing back to the country what could be useful instead of dangerous weapons.

He said that his Command has been very thorough during examination of consignment, adding that this has paid with about three seizures in the past three months.

Among the items were a consignment of cocaine worth N2billion concealed in other goods imported by a big time cement manufacturer and consignment of prepared food.

The Comptroller General of the Customs, Rtd . Col. Hameed Ali had also within a short space of time given three different commendations to the Command.

The latest letter of commendation sent to the Command was one for “Timely Use of Intelligence” in the case of the cocaine seizure by the Command.

Bashar said his command will continue to do its best in checking the excesses of importers.

He however advised Nigerian businessmen to be law abiding to save them from losing their hard earned money.