Turkish envoy meets Customs over illegal arms shipments
The Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Hakan Cakil yesterday met with the Comptroller-General of Customs, Hameed Ibrahim Ali in a bid to gather information on those behind illegal arms shipments from Turkey to Nigeria.
Ali at the meeting expressed concerns of the Nigeria Customs Service and that of Nigerians that four different arms seizures with 2,671 Pump Action Rifles, coming from Turkey alone, appears to suggest complicity of Turkish Authority.
A statement by the Customs Public Relations Officer, Mr Joseph Attah, said the meeting which lasted two hours was fruitful with the envoy restating his country’s support for Nigeria’s security and wellbeing, saying that Turkey will not support any dangerous shipment to Nigeria.
The statement said all the four shipments intercepted were false declarations on the bills of lading, showing a case of smuggling.
The Turkish ambassador will immediately communicate to his home country, findings from the Customs, with view to fishing out criminals behind the illegal arms shipment to Nigeria, the statement noted.
“That the Turkish Government will cooperate with Nigeria in every step to deal decisively with those found involved,” the statement added.
Other resolutions at the meeting was that a team from Customs will visit the Turkish Customs to further discuss ways of nipping such arms export from as well as strengthen agreement on mutual assistance.
The Service will also provide the Turkish authority, list of prohibited items and for fire arms, provide a sample End User Certificate to enable Turkish authority always verify before approving any arms export to Nigeria, they agreed at the meeting.