In what is being hailed as a monumental breakthrough for national security, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted nine containers laden with high-grade weapons, live ammunition, and illicit pharmaceuticals worth a staggering ₦13.9 billion at the Onne Port in Rivers State.
The jaw-dropping seizure was officially unveiled to journalists by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, who detailed how international intelligence and rigorous local tracking dealt a heavy blow to organized "death merchants" attempting to compromise the nation's borders.
Inside the "Container of Evil"
According to the Customs boss, intelligence networks closely tracked a suspicious 40-foot container (bearing number MAEU165396) as it sailed across continents straight from Turkey.
Despite attempts by the importer to bypass standard clearance procedures through a private bonded terminal, vigilant operatives subjected the container to a thorough physical examination on June 21. Hidden cleverly behind ordinary household items like wooden doors, furniture fittings, plumbing supplies, and leather bags lay a terrifying cache of firepower:
844 Units of Assorted Rifles, including:
764 units of Tomahawk Jojef
Magnum Black Pump Action
Rifles
10 units of VC Verney Caron
Gunmakers Jojef Magnum
Silver Pump Action Rifles
50 units of VC Verney Caron
Gunmaker Double Barrel
Rifles
20 units of VC Verney Caron
Gunmaker Single Barrel
Rifles Exclusive Serie
112,500 Pieces of Live
Ammunition (Sterling High-Quality
34g Plastic Shotgun Shells)
The Duty-Paid Value (DPV) for this single container alone hit an estimated ₦4.17 billion.
A Double Blow: Billions in Illicit Drugs Seized
As if the military-grade arsenal wasn't alarming enough, follow-up operations on June 29 netted an additional eight 40-foot containers in transit from Onne Port to a bonded warehouse.
Upon inspection, enforcement units uncovered massive quantities of controlled substances meant to flood the domestic market:
Codeine & Tramadol: Six containers packed with 1.5 million bottles of codeine cough syrup (100ml) and 3.5 million tablets of tramadol/benzhexol, valued at ₦9.6 billion.
Contraband Textiles: Two containers carrying 720 bales of used clothing valued at ₦144 million.
The cumulative value of all nine intercepted containers brings the grand total to ₦13,915,710,000.
Suspects in Custody and Severe Sanctions Imposed
The Comptroller-General confirmed that three suspects have been arrested in connection with the arms smuggling operation after securing lawful detention warrants.
In a decisive administrative sweep, the NCS has taken the following immediate actions:
1. Suspension of Licenses: The operating licenses and permits of all logistics warehouses, terminals, and customs agents linked to the illicit shipments have been suspended indefinitely pending investigation.
2. Internal Purge: Customs officers found to have compromised their oath of office will face severe disciplinary action, while honest officers who rejected bribes to clear the containers are set to be heavily rewarded under the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.
3. Inter-Agency Handover: The intercepted weapons and suspects are being transferred to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) under the Office of the National Security Adviser for intensive profiling and prosecution.
Stay locked onto PORTHARCOURTBLOG as we bring you live follow-ups, security analyst reactions, and ongoing developments straight from Rivers State.
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