South Africa Seizes Another $5.7 Million Arms Cash From Nigeria

Posted by African Examiner African News, Latest Headlines, News Monday, October 6th, 2014

Just three weeks after seizing $9.3 million from two Nigerians and an Israeli for arms purchase, South African authorities have seized another $5.7 million arms money from Nigeria, report says on Monday.

The money was seized by the country’s Asset Forfeiture Unit of the National Prosecuting Authority.

The cash, according to the report was for yet another arms deal between the two countries.

The earlier $9.3 million – stashed in several suitcases was seized at Lanseria Airport, north of Johannesburg, in September.

The money was frozen in both cases for allegedly being the proceeds of illegal transactions.

City Press’ sister paper Rapport gathered that the department for offences against the state in the Special Investigating Unit is also involved.

Documents in the newspaper’s possession show that the earlier consignment was approved by the Nigerian government – with the country national security adviser personally issuing the end-user certificate for the transaction.

An entire “shopping list” was supplied with the certificate, which included everything from helicopters to unmanned aircraft, rockets and ammunition.

Sources close to the investigation said the latest transaction was between Cerberus Risk Solutions, an arms broker in Cape Town, and Societe D’Equipments Internationaux, a Nigerian company in Abuja.

This company, according to an impeccable source, paid the R60m into Cerberus’ account at Standard Bank.

Cerberus was previously registered as a broker with the National Conventional Arms Control Committee, but the registration expired in May this year.

The marketing and contracting permits also expired at the same time.

The nation