The illegal arms shipment intercepted this week at Nigeria's busiest port came from Belgium through Germany, a navy spokesman said Thursday.
"I can confirm to you that the origin of the impounded consignment of arms, military equipment and vehicles is Belgium. The vessel came to Nigeria via Germany," Captain Kabir Aliyu told AFP.
He said those arrested over the illegal shipment were Nigerians, but refused to give details because of an ongoing investigation.
The shipment, including pistols, hundreds of ammunition, bulletproof jackets, military boots and other related banned items, was seized at the Lagos port weeks after the discovery of a weapons cache sent from Iran.
Aliyu said the military items were packed inside a vehicle painted in army green, while eight heavy duty trucks painted in military camouflage were also impounded.
Small Union Jack stickers had been placed on some of the vehicles, but the spokesman said they seem to have been used as a disguise.
Officials at the Belgian embassy in Nigeria were not immediately available for comments on the latest shipment.
Last month, Nigerian security agents intercepted an illegal arms shipment that included rockets and grenades at the same port which had been loaded in Iran.
Nigeria reported the shipment to the UN Security Council.
Iran is under four sets of UN sanctions for pursuing the programme, which the West suspects is cover for a drive for a nuclear weapon, a charge Tehran denies. The sanctions include a ban on arms sales.
Tensions are rising ahead of next year's general elections in Africa's most populous country of 150 million people, which has witnessed voter fraud and violence.
More Arms Intercepted at Tin Can Island Port
Four men have been arrested and paraded by the Nigerian Navy for illegal importation of military uniforms, boots and ammunition into the country.
The items which were concealed in a car with other personal effects were discovered when security operatives were inspecting a container at the tin can island ports in Apapa.
One of the suspects who claimed to have served in the U.S. military said the items were his personal effects.
It was gathered that the arms were concealed in a jeep inside a container and comprised machine guns, pistols, military uniform and boots.
But the Area Controller of the Command, Mr. Austen Warikoru, told newsmen that, “We are yet to conclude the examination of the container, we cannot say anything now because we will not like to mislead the public, it is better we get our facts right.”
The Customs had about a month ago, impounded 13 containers of rocket launchers, assorted ammunitions, cartridges and other weapons at Apapa Port in which 754 packages of glass wool and stones were declared on the ship’s manifest as contents of the 13 containers.
The National Security Adviser, Gen. Andrew Azazi (retd.), had assured that those involved in the importation of the arms and ammunition would be arrested.
The NSA said, “At this point, the only thing we can say is that we have some armament we discovered at the port by the security agencies. We don’t want to make any conclusions about where they are going or where they are coming from.”
Four persons all male have been arrested and paraded by the Nigerian Navy for illegal importation of military uniforms, boots and ammunition into the country.
The items which were concealed in a car with other personal effects were discovered when security operatives were
inspecting a forty feet container at the tin can island ports in Apapa.
One of the suspects who claimed to have served in the U.S. military said the items were his personal effects.
It was gathered that the arms were concealed in a jeep inside a container
and comprised machine guns, pistols, military uniform and boots.
But the Area Controller of the Command, Mr. Austen Warikoru, told newsmen
that, "We are yet to conclude the examination of the container, we
cannot say anything now because we will not like to mislead the public,
it is better we get our facts right."
The Customs had about a month ago, impounded 13 containers of rocket launchers, assorted
ammunitions, cartridges and other weapons at Apapa Port in which 754
packages of glass wool and stones were declared on the ship�s manifest
as contents of the 13 containers.
The National Security Adviser, Gen. Andrew Azazi (retd.), had assured that those involved in the
importation of the arms and ammunition would be arrested.
The NSA said, "At this point, the only thing we can say is that we have some
armament we discovered at the port by the security agencies. We don�t
want to make any conclusions about where they are going or where they
are coming from."...
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