The Nigeria Customs Service has presented verified facts on the interception of a container conveying concealed parts of pump-action rifles, alongside the seizure of two 40-foot containers laden with cannabis-infused products worth a combined street value of ₦373,802,640, concealed among imported goods at the Tincan Island Port Command.
The Comptroller-General of Customs said the operations underscore the Service’s unwavering commitment to protecting Nigeria’s borders from prohibited imports that threaten national security and public health.
The seizures include 109 cartons of Delta-8 cannabis-infused pre-roll cookies (8,720 pieces; 17.44kg) valued at ₦308,792,640; 125 cartons of Delta-8 cannabis-infused gummies (740 packs; 515.2kg) valued at ₦40,700,000; and 73 cartons of cannabis-infused cookies (442 packs; 309.4kg) valued at ₦24,310,000.
The products were concealed alongside two used vehicles, two used pumping generators, rolls of blue polypropylene spunbond fabric, new tubular batteries, and thunder arrester cables.
In a separate operation, on 8 July 2026, Container No. TEMU 184536/9 arrived at Tincan Island Port aboard MV VELIKA and was flagged through the Service’s intelligence-driven risk management system for enhanced monitoring.
Acting on credible intelligence, officers placed the container under surveillance and subsequently subjected it to a detailed physical examination at the Customs Enforcement Station.
The examination uncovered concealed crates containing knocked-down components preliminarily identified as JoJeff pump-action rifles, which are currently undergoing detailed technical examination and inventory to determine the exact quantity and configuration recovered.
Investigations extended beyond the seizure.
On 31 July 2026, one suspect was arrested at Migfo Bonded Terminal while attempting to facilitate the release of the container. Documentary evidence, financial records, and telecommunications analysis established his connection with the named consignee, including a ₦10,000 payment received from a company account linked to the consignee on the day of his arrest. Two suspects are currently in custody assisting investigators, while another principal suspect remains at large and is being actively pursued.
The Comptroller-General said the interceptions demonstrate the growing sophistication of transnational criminal networks that exploit legitimate trade channels to traffic illicit weapons and dangerous narcotic products, while also reaffirming the effectiveness of the Service’s intelligence-driven enforcement strategy, advanced risk profiling systems, and strong inter-agency collaboration.
“Let me state unequivocally that the Nigeria Customs Service will stop at nothing to identify, track, arrest, and prosecute every individual connected to these criminal enterprises. Nigeria’s ports will never be safe havens for the trafficking of illicit weapons, narcotics, or other prohibited goods,” the Comptroller-General said.
He commended the officers and men of the Tincan Island Port Command and the Customs Enforcement Unit for their vigilance, professionalism, and dedication, which made the significant seizures possible, and appreciated the continued support of sister security and law enforcement agencies in safeguarding the nation.
He assured Nigerians that the Service remains resolute in securing the country’s borders, facilitating legitimate trade, and preventing the importation of prohibited and dangerous goods, and encouraged members of the public to continue providing credible intelligence to support enforcement efforts against smuggling and transnational organised crime. He added that the Service will continue to keep the public informed as investigations progress and prosecutions commence