Nigeria's customs alert commands on terrorist weapons

Xinhuanet ^ | November 16, 2003

[Prodigal Son]

ABUJA, Nov. 16 (Xinhuanet) -- The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has alerted all its commands on new trends in arms trafficking and terrorist activities, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported Sunday.

"Information reaching us revealed that the British National Criminal Intelligence Service (BNCIS) has raised an alarm on a new trend in arms trafficking," the report quoted a circular issued by the NCS at the weekend as saying.

The circular stated that the BNCIS had discovered a new style of concealing dangerous weapons.

It noted that the discovery was made during a recent raid on criminal hideouts in Britain, in which various weapons were found disguised as briefcases, pen, mobile phones and belt buckles.

"The most common among them is called: ENIGMA, a briefcase whose handle can be disguised as a revolver capable of firing .22 caliber bullets through a lever on the handle," the statement said.

The NCS, therefore, cautioned its commands nationwide, more especially those at the sea ports, international airports and land borders to be watchful of the "new avenue" for smuggling of terrorists' weapons.

"Consequently, I am directed to inform you to take note and be vigilant in the discharge of your duties," said Ibrahim Etsu, assistant comptroller-general in-charge of NCS's Enforcement and Drugs who signed the statement.

Recently, the World Customs Organization (WCO) advised its members to acquire new detection technologies to check the threat of terrorism and cross border crimes.

"Terrorist networks and organized crime syndicates now constitute a permanent threat to all nations," WCO's Secretary-General Michel Danet said in a publication to customs administration worldwide.

He noted that the use of the international trade supply chain to smuggle weapons of mass destruction posed economic, social and human risk to the international community. Enditem