Customs intercepts 204 illegal pump-action rifles at Lagos port

** The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Tin Can Island Port Command, yesterday said that it intercepted 204 pump-action rifles concealed among declared household goods in a 20-foot container imported from Turkey through the Lagos port.**

The seizure, according to the Service, was based on credible intelligence and sustained surveillance aimed at preventing the importation and circulation of illicit firearms in the country.

The Customs Service said the container, with number TEMU 184536/9, arrived at the Tin Can Island Port aboard the vessel MV Algeciras Express from Turkey on August 16, 2026, and was flagged for examination based on intelligence.

It was subsequently subjected to a 100 per cent physical examination on August 18, during which firearm components were discovered concealed among declared used goods, including furniture, refrigerators, solar panels and detergent.

The development comes barely two weeks after the Command intercepted another shipment of knocked-down firearm components which were assembled into 399 pump-action rifles and subsequently handed over to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons.

Speaking at a press briefing on the latest seizure, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, who was represented by the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Enforcement, Investigation and Inspection, DCG Timi Bomodi, said the latest interception demonstrated the determination of the Service to frustrate the activities of arms traffickers.

“I welcome you all to this important press briefing to mark yet another significant seizure by the Nigeria Customs Service, Tin Can Island Port Command, which was preceded by credible intelligence and sustained efforts to prevent the importation and circulation of illegally imported firearms into Nigeria,” he said.

Bomodi recalled that Adeniyi had visited the Tin Can Island Port Command on August 18, 2026, where he briefed journalists on the interception of knocked-down firearm components.

He said those components were subsequently assembled into 399 pump-action rifles and officially handed over to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons.

According to him, the activities of arms traffickers had once again necessitated the latest gathering, noting that the Customs officers had succeeded in frustrating another attempt to introduce illegal firearms into the country.

“Ladies and gentlemen, the activities of these agents of darkness have once again necessitated our gathering here today, and I am glad to inform you that once again, triumphed evil. The efforts and commitment of our brave and dedicated officers have made good to triumphed evil,” he said.

Giving details of the latest interception, the Customs boss said intelligence received by the Service led to the identification and examination of the container.

“Based on credible information gathered, a 20-foot container with No. TEMU 184536/9, arrived from Turkey aboard vessel MV Algeciras Express on 16 August 2026, was flagged and subjected to a 100 per cent physical examination on 18 August 2026,” he said.

“After thorough examination, the container was found to contain knocked-down firearm components concealed among declared used goods, including furniture, refrigerators, solar panels and detergent.”

He added that discrepancies were also discovered in the documentation accompanying the consignment, particularly with respect to the identity of the consignee.

“Further discrepancies were also discovered in the consignment documents, particularly regarding the identity of the consignee. These discrepancies are part of the ongoing investigation into the shipment and those connected to it,” Bomodi said.

Following the discovery, the Command assembled a team of experts from the Nigeria Customs Service Armament Unit and the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, under the Office of the National Security Adviser, to examine and assemble the intercepted components.

The exercise, he said, resulted in the recovery of 204 MAS 49 ALTER MAGNUM pump-action rifles, alongside several leftover firearm components.

He listed the recovered components as 39 trigger pins, 58 locking lugs, 53 charging handles, 55 pistol grip screws, 56 springs, 56 trigger groups, 38 forward grips or hand guards, 67 forward grip latches, 56 pistol grips, 54 barrels and two U-plates.

He described the seizure as another indication that the Customs Service had sustained heightened surveillance and intelligence-led enforcement against the illicit movement of firearms through Nigeria’s ports and borders.

“The current seizure is a further indication that the Service is maintaining heightened surveillance and intelligence-led enforcement against the illicit movement of firearms through our ports and borders,” he said.

According to him, the intercepted items had been secured and documented and would be formally handed over to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons for appropriate statutory action.

He also stressed the importance of inter-agency cooperation in combating arms smuggling and other security threats.

“The items have been secured, documented and will be formally handed over to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons for appropriate statutory action.

“This operation underscores the importance of intelligence-sharing and collaboration between the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies,” he added.

He added that the whole-of-government approach to combating arms smuggling and other criminal activities at the nation’s ports and borders was yielding positive results.

“This whole-of-government approach to the menace of Arms smuggling and other criminal activities at our ports and borders has proven to be very effective, as attested to by this seizure,” he said.

He further issued a stern warning to smugglers, arms traffickers and their collaborators, saying the Customs Service had continued to strengthen its systems to detect attempts to conceal prohibited items in legitimate consignments.

He said the Service would not limit its investigation to the physical seizure of firearms, but would pursue the networks responsible for importing and distributing the weapons.

“The Service will continue to collaborate with all relevant authorities to identify, intercept and investigate consignments that pose a threat to national security. We will also pursue the networks behind such consignments and not merely focus on the physical seizure of the prohibited items,” he added.

According to him, the objective is to expose the entire chain involved in the illicit movement of firearms, from the point of origin and shipment to the intended destination and beneficiaries.

Speaking earlier, the Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Joseph Anani, warned criminal elements against using the nation’s ports as channels for bringing dangerous weapons into the country.

Anani said the latest interception underscored the Command’s continued vigilance and determination to prevent prohibited and dangerous items from gaining entry into Nigeria through the port.

He noted that the latest development was not the first seizure of its kind recorded by the Command in the month, stressing that repeated interceptions demonstrated the resolve of Customs officers to enforce import prohibitions and safeguard national security.

“These repeated seizures send a clear message: the Tin Can Island Port Command will not be a weak link in the enforcement of import prohibitions, particularly when it concerns dangerous items capable of threatening the peace and security of our nation.

“Those who see our ports as an easy route for bringing prohibited and dangerous items into Nigeria should understand that they will not find a willing partner in the Nigeria Customs Service,” he said.

The Customs boss commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for his leadership, encouragement and support to the Command, particularly his efforts towards strengthening inter-agency collaboration and border security.

He also acknowledged the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons for its cooperation with the Command in handling the seized firearms.

According to him, the collaboration between the two agencies involved Customs armament units working alongside personnel from the Centre to carefully couple and assemble the knocked-down parts of the firearms in order to establish the exact nature of the items intercepted.

“Our armament units worked together, spending countless hours carefully coupling and assembling the knocked-down parts of these firearms to establish exactly what had been intercepted. It is a practical demonstration of what can be achieved when security agencies work together with a common purpose,” Anani said.

The post Customs intercepts 204 illegal pump-action rifles at Lagos port appeared first on The Sun Nigeria.