The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said it has continued to engage member countries of World Customs Organisation (WCO) to tackle the menace of importation of illicit arms and ammunition into Nigeria.
Abdullahi Maiwada, National Public Relations Officer, NCS, made this known at a news conference organised by the Strategic Communication Interagency Policy Committee (SCIPC), in Abuja on Thursday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the committee is set up by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), while the conference is hosted by the Nigeria Police Force.
SCIPC is a committee of the spokespersons of the military, police, intelligence and response agencies.
Maiwada said that the Comptroller-General, NCS, had promised to resuscitate the MoU between Nigeria and Turkey Customs Administration, on how to curtail the menace of smuggling of small arms and light weapons into Nigeria.
He also said that the NCS had recently signed an MoU) with General Administration of China Customs, adding that most of the drugs they intercepted came from India.
”We are working towards having what is called Customs to Customs Cooperation between those of us that are within the WCO.
”Customs to Customs cooperation is part of the strategy to ensure trade facilitation and cut illicit trade.
”So, we are working together with those customs administration, and at the higher level, there will also be diplomatic engagement which is above us now,” he said.
NAN reports that the NCS recently intercepted nine containers carrying offensive items, including arms, ammunition, and illicit drugs at the Onne Port, Rivers State.
Also, a 40-feet container carrying a total of 844 units of assorted rifles, 112,500 pieces of live ammunition among other contraband were intercepted.
According to the NCS, the intercepted containers, laden with rifles and ammunition have a duty-paid value of more than N4 billion.(NAN)
By Sumaila Ogbaje