MMA Customs bursts Airport syndicate which specialises in stealing goods from stacking areas

The vigilant team of Murtala Muhammed Airport Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted a bus load of goods stolen and being smuggled out of the NAHCO shed by a syndicate.

The Toyota Hiace bus with registration number ZIE59 FG branded with the logo of Nigerian Airspace Management Authority (NAMA) was apprehended Wednesday August 8th, 2018 at the Bulk Breaking Area of NAHCO shed around 5.00am, trying to make its way through the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) exit gate 3 before it was intercepted on a tip off.

Briefing news men at the Command warehouse where the seized bus loaded with the stolen items and its driver, one Anthony Mukolu, an employee of NAMA, were paraded, the Area Controller, Mrs Jayne Shoboiki, expressed shock at the incident because ‘we never thought that a vehicle belonging to an agency of government could be used as a means of conveyance of such goods’.

She disclosed that only the driver of the vehicle was arrested at the time of interception but vowed to fish out all those who were collaborators in this heinous act.

“The matter is still being investigated but I can assure you that nobody will be spared.

“I know the driver could not do it alone without the connivance of clearing agents, the security and even my officers would not be left out in the investigation”, Shoboiki declared.

She further lamented that it was this type of incident which leads to unutilised Airway bill.

“Of course, when goods are stolen, Airway bills remain unutilised because duties are not paid and declaration not made. That is why we have loads of unutilised Airway bills”, the Area Controller said.

She disclosed that the command has not recorded such incident before under her watch but promised that such practice would henceforth be discouraged as they would use the present case to send a strong warning signal to those who may be tempted to carry out similar sinister practice.

However, Mukolu, the apprehended NAMA driver looked thoroughly subdued and apologetic when he spoke of his involvement in this illicit practice.

He disclosed that his friends, who are apparently other members of the syndicate, called him that there were some goods to pick up at the NAHCO shed for which he was paid N30,000.

He revealed that these ‘my friends’ are security guards with Sheriff, a private security company, which apparently guards the warehouse.

Mukolu, who confessed he was involved in two similar illicit practices in the past, said it was his third outing which has now gone awry.

He expressed regret at his action but pleaded that these ”my friends” should be arrested as well.

It was gathered that the intercepted goods, which true value is yet to be ascertained, comprised of expensive lace materials, self-Adhesive and display board and intercoolers lens.

The consignment is captured on Airway bill numbers 157-48174534, 157-48097066 and 235-73688020 and was imported by Benjamin Nicholas Nigeria Limited, Latsalam Limited and Vicky Fortune Ventures respectively.

Mrs Shoboiki also paraded cartons of drones which she said were being intercepted almost on daily basis and several sacks of unprocessed donkey’s skin.