The Nigeria Customs Service on Tuesday expressed its concerned over 2671 pump action rifles imported from Turkey.
Comptroller-General of NCS, Colonel Hameed Ibrahim Ali (rtd) protested to Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Hakan Cakil who visited him in the Customs Headquarters in Abuja.
Ali lamented that four major recent seizures of the illegal arms came from Turkey.
Highlight of the meeting made available to DAILY POST by Customs spokesperson, Joseph Attah, said the parley lasted for about two hours.
“The meeting was frank, detailed with specific commitment and strategies to stem the ugly tide,” the official noted.
He said the meeting specifically discussed all the four shipments intercepted after false declaration on the bill of lading.
Attah quoted the Turkish Ambassador as restating his country’s support for Nigeria’s security and wellbeing.
The envoy also assured that his government will cooperate with Nigeria in every step to deal decisively with those found culpable.
It would be recalled that operatives of the Tin-Can Island Command last Wednesday apprehended another container containing guns, less than two weeks after similar discovery.
Customs in a statement said the guns were found in a 20ft container with No. CMAU189817/8 from Turkey.
“It was transferred to the enforcement unit, where 100% examination revealed 470 pump action rifles as against elbow plumbing plastics on its bill of lading”, it read in part.
“Importer of this deadly cargo is Great James Oil and Gas Ltd, while the vessel is MV Arkas Africa owned by Hull Blyth.
“This discovery brings to a total of 2671 rifles seized within the last eight months of this year.”
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