Israel Matzav

Nigeria confiscates 13 containers of Iranian arms headed for Gaza

Nigerian authorities in the port of Lagos have intercepted 13 containers of Iranian arms (missiles, rocket launchers, etc.) that were apparently headed for Gaza.

Nigerian media reports said the ship, which came from Iran, docked in Lagos' port for a few hours only, unloaded 13 containers and sailed on.

The bill of lading said the shipment consisted of building materials, Nigerian State Security Service spokeswoman Marilyn Ogar said.

"On opening the first container, the service operatives discovered rocket launchers, grenades and other explosives," Ogar said, adding the weapons were concealed among crates of floor tiles.

The SSS had received intelligence ahead of time about the intention to smuggle weapons in containershttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif via Lagos and was prepared for it, reports said.

Nigerian National Security Adviser Andrew Owoye Azazi declined to say what ship carried the weapons into the port. He said the federal government would destroy the weapons.

According to the Nigerian media, the clearing agent in charge of unloading the containers from the ship offered to bribe the Nigerian customs officers to transfer the containers to an off-dock terminal, where they could be screened outside the port. The customs officials alerted the security services, who ordered the containers opened.

The Iranians apparently shipped the weapons via Nigeria due to difficulties they have had in shipping weapons to Gaza via Sudan.

Hmmm.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 3:39 PM