PASSENGERS AT AIRPORT

Importer Nabbed with Explosives by Customs

The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) command and other security agencies arrested an importer for the unauthorised importation of 11 cartons of substances suspected to be explosives and electronic detonators.

The explosives which was packaged professionally so it could beat security checks were brought in on the 18^th of February 2012 on board South Africa Airways and it weighed 25kg in total.

Comptroller of Customs Airport Command, Charles Edike confirmed that the importation was made without permit from the appropriate authorities.

The personnel at the NAHCO warehouse suspected the content inside the cartons which were labelled cartridge powder devices and chargers were prohibited items so security agencies were alerted immediately to further look into the cargo, due to the urgency attached to the clearing process by the importer while attempting to smuggle the cartons out of the cargo terminal without proper clearance of the items inside the carton as he also had the explosives concealed in pallets made of other goods which concealed the original content.

The importer who claimed to be a miner living in Kaduna state evaded import duty payment.

The importer and the prohibited explosives were handed over to the police for proper test on the items and for further investigation.