Lagos-bound Russian vessel laden with explosives detained in South Africa

South African authorities have detained a Russian cargo vessel suspected of carrying illegal arms and heading to Nigeria and the US. According to South African media, Herald Live, the South African ports authorities, discovered explosives on board the vessel in the course of operations at the Port of Ngqura, just off the coast of Port Elizabeth.

The explosives and weapons reportedly valued at about R50 million,  were discovered following a tip-off, after the ship had offloaded 14 containers at the port.

An investigation into the owners of the vessel is currently being done by the Hawks which is a South African criminal investigative organisation. Recall that in recent times, the Nigerian Customs Service has been discovering mass weapons that are being imported into the country via various routes.