Godwin Oritse
THE Port and Terminal Multi-purpose services Limited (PTML) Command of the Nigeria Customs Service  (NCS) has arrested an American, Mr. Alfred Kwaku Antiwi, over importation of arms and ammunition .

In a statement, the Command Public Relations Officer, Barrister Chris Ogbonna, said that the arms were discovered in a container belonging to Antiwi whose content he declared as personal effects.

The container, with number GONU 33897 was discovered to have contained one Italian made   Pietro Baretta Pistol with serial number 061730, twenty empty magazine for the Pistol, 8 Packets of 45 Calibre 230 gram Remington live ammunition of 50 pieces in each packet (400pieces).

Other ammunitions discovered  on physical examination by Customs service include 45 Calibre 230 gram 15 rounds of live ammunition, 100 pieces of 40 SW Calibre live ammunition, one live Cartridge bullet, 3 pieces of military Smoke explosive, one suspected liquid explosive amongst other dangerous materials.

On discovery of the arms, the American was promptly invited and was arrested on arrival.
As at the time of filing this report, Antiwi was being interrogated by a joint team of the Nigeria Customs Service, officials of Naval intelligence, Department of the State Security Service, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Nigerian Police.

Antiwi whose Passport number was given as 220128048 was later detained and taken away to Police station pending further investigations.
Ogbonna explained that the arms and ammunition were uncovered when officers of the Command decided to do a 100% examination on the container the American declared as personal effects.

Part of the statement reads: “On the 2nd of June, 2010 1x40ft Container No. GONU -462485/7 said to contain Personal effect entered on SGD No. TCI/8 880263 with C No. 33897 of 27/05/2010 declared by Dansmon Nigeria Ltd, a licensed Customs Agency of No.

525 Agege Motor Road Oshodi, Lagos imported by one Alfred Kwaku Antiwi with American Passport No. 220128048 was jointly examined by Nigeria Customs Service with other Security Agencies”.