Containers of Imported Cutlasses Are Instrument of War

‘Only NSA Can Determine Otherwise’ – Customs Boss

BY GBOGBOWA GBOWA

The Area Controller, Tin Can Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Comptroller, Adekunle Oloyede has described eight containers of brand new cutlasses seized by his command as weapons of war, unless the National Security Adviser (NSA) says otherwise.

While addressing news men in his office Wednesday, the Customs Area Controller said the command intercepted eight containers unscrupulously laden of cutlasses, amounting to 206,000 pieces, said to have been imported from Ghana.

He said the unapproved consignments  stands seized having been brought into the country without an End-User-Certificate (EUC) from the Office of the National Security Adviser, which approval alone would have validated the legal use of the machetes; and leading to customs clearance without hindrances or let.

“Bringing in this quantum of machetes at a time this country is passing through serious security challenges means that they are instrument of war. At our level here, this items stands seized, unless the importer gets a EUC from the NSA.  Maybe that is the only authority that can decide otherwise”, he declared.

Explaining further, Oloyede said at the point of arrest, the import contravened Sections 46, 47 and 161 of the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) Cap 45 LFN 2004.

Further outlining the anti-smuggling activities of the command, Oloyede said his operatives also seized 145 kilograms of Colorado, 640 bales of used clothes, 236,500 pieces of used shoes, and 62,500 pieces of new lady’s shoes.

Others are 1,670,400 pieces of Chloroquine injections (Smg/Sml), 1,814,400 pieces Novalgen injection (500mg/Sml), 48,850 rolls of cigarettes and 23,800 tins of sodium bromate and baking powder.

The customs area boss explained that the Colorado was concealed in two units of Ridgeline trucks and two units of Toyota Corolla vehicles while the machetes made in Ghana were concealed in eight containers.