The Nigeria Customs Service has extended its dragnet to two leading multinational companies in its on-going investigations into the recent importation of 661 units on guns into the country through the Apapa port in Lagos.
Shipping Position Daily confirmed last week that, the Nigeria Customs Service has officially queried the duo of APM Terminal and shipping line; Maersk Line. This is in addition to many customs officers who have either being detained or quizzed.
Our correspondents confirmed that, while the ship that brought the container, in which the boxes that contained the pump action riffles berthed at APM Terminals in Apapa port, Maersk is the shipping line.
Sources at both Customs and APM Terminals confirmed the development. While it was gathered that APM Terminals and Maersk Line are yet to officially respond to the query, our correspondent learnt that the invitation was part of preliminary investigations.
However, sources at APM Terminal told our correspondent that the Nigeria Customs Service can not hold the terminal operator liable for the gun importation.
“Our duty is to release containers that have been okayed by the Customs, we only release consignments to the importer or the representative only after Customs has certified and authourised the receipt”, the source stated last Friday.
“In the case of this particular consignment, there is nothing to indicate that there was any breach of these guidelines”, the source explained.
Shipping Position Daily confirmed that more arrests are likely to be made in the coming weeks as Customs extends its dragnet to more suspects.
Already, seven suspects have been arrested and detained in connection with the gun importation. Those arrested include, the clearing agent, the importer and the motor boy that was taking the consignment to the destination. In addition, four Customs officers have been arrested in connection with the lethal import.
Similarly, three officers who had earlier been declared wanted have given themselves up at the Customs Federal Operations Unit.
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