Customs Transfers 204 Smuggled Rifles to Arms Control Centre After Major Port Interception

The Nigeria Customs Service has transferred 204 pump-action rifles intercepted at the Tincan Island Port in Lagos to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, following the discovery of a concealed arms shipment imported from Turkey.

The seizure, made through intelligence-driven operations, exposed a cache of firearm components hidden inside a container declared to contain used household goods.

Representing the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, at the handover ceremony, Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Enforcement, Investigation and Inspection, Timi Bomodi, said the container was singled out for inspection after security intelligence raised concerns over its contents.

According to Customs, the container arrived at Tincan Port aboard a cargo vessel in mid-August and was subjected to a thorough examination by operatives. During the inspection, officers uncovered dismantled firearm parts concealed among furniture, refrigerators, solar panels, detergents and other imported items.

A joint team of experts from the Customs Armament Unit and the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons later assembled the recovered parts, leading to the discovery of 204 MAS 49 Alter Magnum pump-action rifles.

In addition to the rifles, security operatives recovered dozens of weapon components, including barrels, trigger assemblies, charging handles, locking lugs, pistol grips and springs.

Customs said preliminary investigations also revealed inconsistencies in the shipping documents and identities linked to the consignment, prompting a broader probe into the individuals and networks behind the attempted importation.

The agency described the interception as another major breakthrough in its ongoing crackdown on illegal arms trafficking, noting that strengthened intelligence gathering, risk profiling and inter-agency collaboration have significantly improved its ability to detect prohibited items at the nation’s ports.

Adeniyi stressed that Customs would not only seize illicit weapons but also pursue those responsible for financing, shipping and receiving them, with the aim of dismantling the entire supply chain behind arms smuggling operations.

He warned that smugglers increasingly face limited opportunities to evade detection as security agencies continue to deploy advanced monitoring systems and intelligence-led enforcement strategies.

The Customs Area Controller of Tincan Island Command, Joe Anani, said the latest seizure reinforces the command’s commitment to safeguarding national security and ensuring that seaports are not used as channels for the importation of dangerous weapons.

Receiving the weapons, the South-West Coordinator of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, Abiodun Alamutu, praised Customs for its vigilance, noting that repeated interceptions have prevented illegal firearms from falling into the hands of criminals and other unauthorised persons.

The handover marks another milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to curb the proliferation of small arms and strengthen security across the country.