By George Ozalla
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has foiled another major attempt to move prohibited items into the country through the nation’s seaports, intercepting components believed to be for more than 140 pump-action rifles and cannabis-infused products with an estimated street value of ₦373.8 million at the Tincan Island Port Command in Lagos.
The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed the seizures on Thursday, August 6, 2026, while briefing journalists at the Tincan Island Port.
He said the interceptions were the outcome of intelligence-led operations and the Service’s risk management system, which enabled officers to identify suspicious consignments for enhanced scrutiny.
According to Adeniyi, the container containing the arms components arrived at the port aboard MV VELIKA on July 8, 2026, but was flagged by the Service’s intelligence-driven risk profiling system.
A subsequent examination uncovered concealed crates containing knocked-down components preliminarily identified as parts of JoJeff pump-action rifles.
The Customs boss said the discovery led to the arrest of two suspects, while another principal suspect connected to the consignment remained at large and was being actively tracked by investigators.
The latest interception adds to a series of major arms seizures recorded by the Service in recent years, including the interception of a 40-foot container at Onne Port in July 2024 containing 844 rifles and 112,500 rounds of live ammunition.
The Service also transferred 3,897 arms and ammunition to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons in February 2025. The items comprised 1,599 arms and 2,298 rounds of ammunition intercepted between 2018 and 2024.
In a separate operation at the Tincan Island Port, Customs officers intercepted two 40-foot containers containing cannabis-infused products concealed alongside used vehicles, generators, batteries and other imported goods.
The seized consignments comprised 109 cartons of Delta-8 cannabis-infused pre-roll cookies, 125 cartons of Delta-8 cannabis-infused gummies and 73 cartons of cannabis-infused cookies, with a combined street value of ₦373,802,640.
The latest drug seizure comes against the backdrop of several major narcotics interceptions recorded at Tincan Island Port through intelligence-led operations involving the Customs Service and other security agencies.
Adeniyi said the interceptions reflected the growing sophistication of transnational criminal networks exploiting legitimate trade channels to traffic prohibited weapons and narcotics into Nigeria.
He said the successful operations also demonstrated the effectiveness of the Service’s intelligence-driven enforcement strategy, advanced risk profiling systems and collaboration with sister security agencies.
Warning that criminal elements might seek to exploit the nation’s borders as Nigeria enters another election cycle, Adeniyi said Customs would strengthen its enforcement activities.
“We are about entering a major election cycle and we know that by this period, men of the underworld will want to use our borders, our ports, our airports to bring in items like this. We are going to redouble our efforts to ensure that we do not allow them to do so.”
The Comptroller-General further warned against internal compromise, stressing that the Service would not protect officers or other persons who facilitate the movement of prohibited goods into the country.
“The Nigeria Customs Service will not harbour any of these people who want to serve as accomplices or use their position to influence the importation of goods that will threaten our peace and security and the peaceful conduct of the next general election.”
He urged members of the public to provide credible intelligence to support ongoing efforts against smuggling and organised crime.
Adeniyi commended officers of the Tincan Island Port Command and the Customs Enforcement Unit for their vigilance and professionalism, reaffirming the commitment of the Service to identifying, arresting and prosecuting all persons connected with the criminal networks.
He said Customs would continue to strengthen controls at the nation’s ports, borders and airports to prevent the movement of arms, narcotics and other prohibited goods, while facilitating legitimate trade.
