Customs Intercepts Pump-Action Rifles, ₦373.8m Drug Cargo at Tin Can, Arrests Two

By Adebola Isimijola, Lagos

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted a 20-foot container concealing components of pump-action rifles and two 40-foot containers loaded with cannabis-infused products at the Tin Can Island Port, Lagos, arresting two suspects in connection with the seizures.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed this while briefing journalists at the port on Thursday, August 6, 2026, saying 140 double-barrel pump-action rifles had been reassembled from the arms shipment as of the time of the briefing, while examination and inventory were still ongoing.

He added that the principal importer of the firearms remained at large and was being actively pursued.

Adeniyi said the 20-foot container, numbered TEMU-184536/9, arrived at the Tin Can Island Port on July 8, 2026, aboard the vessel MV Velika and was flagged by the Service’s intelligence-driven risk management system for enhanced monitoring.

According to him, Customs officers placed the container under surveillance before subjecting it to a detailed physical examination at the Customs Enforcement Station, where concealed crates containing knocked-down components preliminarily identified as Jojef pump-action rifles were discovered.

“We are currently undertaking detailed examination and inventory to determine the exact quantity and the configuration recovered. As at the time of putting down these reports, 140 pieces of double-barrel JoJef action rifle has been discovered. The counting is still in progress,” Adeniyi said.

He said investigations led to the arrest of a key suspect on July 21, 2026, at a bonded terminal while attempting to facilitate the release of the container.

According to him, documentary evidence, financial records and telecommunication analysis established links between the suspect and the consignee named on the shipping documents.

“One of the exhibits that we have includes a payment of N10,000 received from a company account that is directly linked to the consignee of this particular item,” Adeniyi said.

He added that two suspects were subsequently taken into custody and were assisting investigators, while another principal suspect remained at large.

On the narcotics seizure, Adeniyi said Customs officers also intercepted two 40-foot containers carrying cannabis-infused products concealed alongside two used vehicles, two used pumping generators and other imported goods in an attempt to evade detection.

He said the seizures comprised 105 cartons of Delta-8 cannabis-infused pre-rolled cookies containing 8,720 pieces weighing 17.44kg and valued at N308.79 million; 125 cartons of Delta-8 cannabis-infused gummies valued at N40.7 million; and 73 cartons of cannabis-infused cookies containing 442 packs, weighing 309.4kg and valued at N24.31 million.

The combined street value of the intercepted cannabis products, according to the CGC, was N373.8 million.

Adeniyi said the seizures reflected the growing sophistication of transnational criminal networks exploiting legitimate trade channels to traffic prohibited weapons and dangerous narcotics into the country.

He said the interceptions also demonstrated the effectiveness of the Service’s intelligence-driven enforcement strategy, advanced risk-profiling system and collaboration with sister security agencies.

The Customs boss commended the Controller of the Tin Can Island Port Command, Comptroller Joseph Anani, and officers of the Enforcement Unit for their vigilance, dedication and timely response to intelligence that led to the seizures.

Warning that criminal elements could attempt to exploit the nation’s borders ahead of the 2027 general elections, Adeniyi said the Service would intensify its efforts to prevent the movement of illicit weapons into the country.

“This is a very delicate period for Nigerian history. We are about entering a major election cycle and we know that at this period men of the underworld will want to use our borders, our ports and 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,” he said.

He also warned against internal compromise within the Service, assuring that Customs would not tolerate officials who might facilitate the importation of goods capable of threatening national security.

“The Nigeria Customs Service will not have any of these people who will want to serve as accomplices or use their position to influence the importation of goods that will threaten our peace and security and threaten the credibility and peaceful conduct of the next general election,” he said.

Adeniyi urged Nigerians to provide credible intelligence that could assist security agencies in tracking criminal networks, adding that investigations into the seizures were ongoing and that further arrests and prosecutions were expected.

He assured that the Service would continue to deploy intelligence, technology and inter-agency collaboration to dismantle smuggling networks, protect Nigeria’s borders and facilitate legitimate trade.