By Peace Udugba
Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Adewale Adeniyi, Tincan Island Port, arms seizure, pump-action rifles, cannabis seizure, ₦373.8 million, drug trafficking, smuggling, Lagos Port, Nigeria borders
Category: Crime & Security
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted components of more than 140 pump-action rifles and seized cannabis-infused products worth ₦373.8 million at the Tincan Island Port Command in Lagos.
The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed the seizures on Thursday, August 6, 2026, while briefing journalists at the Tincan Island Port.
According to Adeniyi, the container carrying the suspected arms components arrived aboard the vessel MV VELIKA on July 8, 2026, and was flagged for enhanced monitoring through the Service’s intelligence-driven risk management system.
A thorough examination of the container reportedly uncovered concealed crates containing knocked-down components preliminarily identified as parts of JoJeff pump-action rifles.
The CGC said investigations into the shipment had led to the arrest of two suspects, while another principal suspect remained at large and was being actively tracked.
In a separate operation, Customs officers intercepted two 40-foot containers carrying cannabis-infused products concealed alongside used vehicles, generators, batteries and other imported goods.
The seized items included 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.
The combined street value of the cannabis products was estimated at ₦373,802,640.
Adeniyi said the seizures demonstrated the growing sophistication of transnational criminal networks attempting to exploit legitimate trade channels to traffic prohibited weapons and narcotics into Nigeria.
He attributed the successful interceptions to the Service’s intelligence-led enforcement strategy, advanced risk-profiling systems and collaboration with sister security agencies.
The CGC also warned that criminal groups could attempt to exploit Nigeria’s borders ahead of the country’s next general elections.
“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,” Adeniyi said.
He added that the Service would intensify surveillance and enforcement operations to prevent the movement of weapons and other prohibited items through Nigeria’s borders.
Adeniyi further warned against internal compromise within the Customs Service, saying officers who facilitate the importation of goods capable of threatening national security would not be protected.
“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 said.
He urged members of the public to provide credible intelligence that could assist security agencies in tackling smuggling and organised crime.
The CGC commended officers of the Tincan Island Port Command and the Customs Enforcement Unit for their vigilance and professionalism.
He reaffirmed the NCS’s commitment to identifying, arresting and prosecuting individuals linked to criminal networks while protecting Nigeria’s borders and facilitating legitimate international trade.
