The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Command, Ikeja, has handed over confiscated over 148 pieces of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) popularly known as drones; 112 military hardwares and accessories; two bullet proof helmets and two Army vests to the General Officer Commanding GOC 81 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Mohamed Usman in Lagos.
In the same vein, NCS equally handed over to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), fake $1.2million notes and five Cryptocurrency machines on Thursday, 9th May, 2024.
The counterfeited fake US dollars was received on behalf of the agency by the Assistant Commander, Oguzi Moses.
Disclosing to the journalists the activities, including seizures of the NSC Command from January to April 2024, the Command’s Customs Area Comptroller, Compt. Charles Orbih, said the handing over of the seized items were in consonance with the directive of the Comptroller General of Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.
He disclosed that it became necessary for the NCS to impound the UAVs because the importers of the items couldn’t provide End-User Certificate (EUC) from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
Giving further insights into the capabilities of the drone, Compt. Moses added that the UAVs has the wherewithal to be in the air for three days consecutively and can be equipped with arms and ammunition.
Commending NCS after receiving the seized items, the GOC, Gen Usman the efforts of the Customs has further strengthened inter-agency collaboration between Customs and the Nigerian Army.
“I thank Comptroller Orbih for his excellent effort and on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Taoreed Lagbaja, who sent me here to receive these items, I thank the Customs CG.
He noted that the damage the drone is capable of wrecking can only be determined after they might have handed them over to experts in the Army.
