The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted components believed to be parts of more than 140 pump-action rifles and seized cannabis-infused products valued at ₦373.8 million at the Tincan Island Port in Lagos, raising fresh concerns over the use of Nigeria’s legitimate trade corridors for organised crime.
The seizures, announced by Adewale Adeniyi, the Comptroller-General of Customs, on Thursday, August 6, highlight the growing security risks posed by the smuggling of firearms and illicit drugs through the ports as Nigeria approaches another major electoral cycle.
According to Adeniyi, the firearms components were discovered in a container that arrived aboard MV VELIKA on July 8 and had been selected for enhanced scrutiny through the Customs Service’s intelligence-led risk management system.
A detailed examination of the container uncovered concealed crates containing knocked-down components preliminarily identified as JoJeff pump-action rifles.
The operation has so far resulted in the arrest of two suspects, while Customs continues to track another principal suspect believed to be connected with the consignment.
