Tin Can Customs Intercepts Cache of Arms, Illicit Drugs, Collects over N240 billion as Revenue

Tincan Island Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service on Friday showcased a cache of arms seizure including eleven (11) guns including pump Action guns, six (6) pistols including semi-automatic arms and pepper spray guns, military vests, among others.

The command also said that it also made yet another seizure of psychotropic substances imported into the country in collaboration with its partner agency, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA in recent time.

Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos on Friday, the Customs Area Controller of the command, Comptroller Dera Nnadi who handed over the seized items to the Department of State Security Service, DSS and NDLEA, said, “The Command’s anti-smuggling drive has yielded the following results: one 20P 9964 Rifle; another 20P 9964 Rifle; one Pump Action Rifle; one Practical Tactical 30H 80019922 Rifle; another 20P 992 Rifle; two AV Pump Action Rifle; and yet another P10115 Rifle. In total, we seized 11 Rifles and six Pistols from different containers imported into the country at different times.”

“As you can see right behind me, several kilograms of Cannabis Indica has been seized. But permit me to bring to your attention the latest seizure that we did, which is twenty three (23) packages containing twenty three (23) kilograms of Heroin concealed in a container, the identity of which we are still keeping secret because investigation is still ongoing.

“Let me state that our resolve to make these seizures is further support to the efforts of the federal government to keep the nation safe. As you are all aware, the conveyors of these products intend to use them for nefarious activities that includes support to the insurgents, kidnapping activities and other vices that are inimical to the well-being and security of our nation.”

On revenue collection, Comptroller Nnadi disclosed that for the first two months and fourteen days of 2024, the command collected the sum of two hundred and forty billion, three hundred and two million naira as revenue to the federal government even as he recalled that the command’s monthly revenue target was s ninety four billion.

“What this means is that we have been able to surpass our expected revenue target of one hundred and eighty eight billion naira for the two months that have passed. I wish to congratulate all our stakeholders who have been responsible for the payment of this duty but most importantly, I thank officers of the Nigeria Customs Service and all our esteemed stakeholders which includes you, members of the press for helping us to sustain some of these achievements.

“But let me say by way of percentage for the month of January, the command surpassed its revenue collection by one hundred and seven percent. For the month of February, it was also surpassed by one hundred and forty one percent. So, consistently, we keep improving”, the CAC said.

While fielding questions from the Journalists on the identity of those behind the importation of the arms and ammunition as well as the illicit drugs, Nnadi said, “What we try to do is to protect some of these information in order not to jeopardize investigation but some of the arms you are seeing here, were also seized by my predecessor but were not handed over during that period. But we feel that the quantity is growing and we need to evacuate them from our armoury to the relevant government agencies that will handle them.

“Of course, you cannot make seizures at the seaport that is a confined environment where declarations are made through bill of ladings and declaration without making arrest. There are people who made these declarations, some were arrested, bail was granted, prosecution is ongoing. It is not like we are in the land area where you say somebody abandoned the consignment and run away. These ones, arrests were. made and prosecution is going on, that I can assure you.”

When pressed further, he said, “Our partner agencies including our foreign collaborators have requested that as much as possible, much as we showcase these things to let people know that we are working, that we should try to assist them with further investigation by not mentioning some of these information. The idea is that we need to sustain this. Rather than treat the symptoms, we need to cure the sickness itself. This is a sustained effort, back to back in the last two months. You can imagine the number of containers that we have intercepted bearing cocaine and heroin and cannabis indica.

“Initially, out of excitement, we would have loved to mention the vehicle involved, the country of origin, the container number, the vessel that brought them. We have those things, we even have the names, we even have the details of their financial transactions but like I said, sometimes, it’s not strategic in security investigation to give out all your strategies to those that you are investigating. So, permit me to leave it at this.”