Crime

Customs detains 28 officers over seized arms at Tin Can Ports

Published

9 years ago

September 21, 2017

No fewer than 28 Customs officers have been detained following the seizure of about 1,500 arms of Jojef Magnum Pump Action and Jojef Magnum plastic single barrels hunting gun, Pump Action rifles at Lagos Tin-Can in the last one month.

All the Customs officers arrested, according to the CS, are working at the Tin-Can Island Command of the Service.

The customs has promised to uncover officers that are connected with the plan to clear a container laden with arms and ammunition with a view to prosecuting them.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) displays the seized 1,100 a fortnight ago disclosed that the detained officers are being interrogated to determine their level of involvement in the botched plan to ferry the container of arms out of the port undetected.

It was also learnt that some officers arrested and civilian collaborators would soon be charged to court after a detained investigation into the matter is concluded.

National Daily recalls that some officers of the Intelligence Unit had on routine duty on 6 September, 2017, suspected that a 20ft container which was not initially listed for examination was clandestinely moved and positioned with other containers for the day’s examination.

ALSO SEE: Customs impounds 1,100 pump action rifles at Tin Can Island

Based on that, it was further learnt, they realised that the seal of the container had been cut and padlocked hence it immediately transferred to the Enforcement Unit where it was examined and pump action rifles found in it.

Also, two days ago, another container was also uncovered to have had over 450 pump-action rifles which were imported from Turkey.