Customs impounds arms, ammunition at Tin-Can port

THE Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Tin-Can command has foiled attempt by an importer to smuggle a pistol and 980 ammunition into the country.

Customs Area Comptroller (CAC), Tin-Can command, Yusuf Bashar, explained on Monday that the highly prohibitive items were hidden among personal effect of the importer.

Already, the suspect has been handed over to the Department of State Security (DSS) for further information.

He explained the pistol and ammunition were imported from the United States of America (USA), adding that the suspect was apprehended on December 31, 2015.

Other items recovered from the suspect according to Bashar are camouflage face cap, hand glove, and army plastic container and cover shoe.

Speaking at a ceremony where the items were handed over to representatives of DSS, Bashar said the investigation is ongoing.

Bashar, who was recently appointed CAC of the command also pledged the commitment of Customs to partner sister agencies such as the DSS and the Police in the ongoing investigation.

Representative of DSS at the event, James Udoh, said the agency was working closely with all relevant agencies in its investigation.

According to Udoh, the agency operation is centred round prevention, detection and investigation, adding that members of the public should feel free to come up with information to assist investigations.

Bashir also used the opportunity to announce that the command recorded N24.8 Billion for the month of January 2016, compared with N20.9 Billion recorded in January 2015.

He attributed the increase in revenue collection despite various challenges to improve compliance, professionalism, and capacity of officers among others.

The CAC had recently advised trading public to export only semi-treated and fully processed wood products.

He explained that the command had to sensitize the trading public particularly exporters on the need to ensure that only exportable wood products are brought in to the port, noting that anything short of what the law permits, will be confiscated.

He said exports do not attract any duty, adding that in the light of falling oil price, the government is trying to encourage Nigerians to export as much as they can with a view to repatriating foreign currencies back home”.

-Guardian