From
Admin desk
The Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted another consignment of unassembled firearms at Tin Can Island Port, in what officials say shows the impact of intelligence-driven operations against arms smuggling.
Briefing journalists on Monday, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi โ represented by Deputy Comptroller-General for Enforcement, Investigation and Inspection, Timi Bomodi โ said the latest seizure proves the Serviceโs resolve to block the illegal movement of weapons through Nigeriaโs seaports.
Bomodi recalled that in August 2026, the CGC personally announced the interception of knocked-down gun parts at the same command. Those parts were later assembled into 399 pump-action rifles and handed over to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons.
How the Latest Seizure Was Made
According to Bomodi, credible intelligence led officers to flag a 20-foot container from Turkey aboard the vessel MV Algeciras Express on 16 August 2026. The container underwent a 100 per cent physical examination on 18 August 2026.
โAfter thorough examination, the container was found to contain knocked-down firearm components concealed among declared used goods, including furniture, refrigerators, solar panels and detergent,โ Bomodi said.
Investigators also found discrepancies in the shipping documents, especially concerning the listed consignee.
โThese discrepancies are part of the ongoing investigation into the shipment and those connected to it,โ he added.
Items Recovered and Next Steps
A joint team of the NCS Armament Unit and the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, under the Office of the National Security Adviser, was set up to assemble the parts.
The exercise produced 204 MAS 49 ALTER MAGNUM pump-action rifles. Other recovered components include:
- 54 barrels
- 56 trigger groups, 56 springs, 56 pistol grips
- 53 charging handles, 58 locking lugs, 39 trigger pins
- 38 forward grips/hand guards, 67 forward grip latches, 55 pistol grip screws, and 2 U-plates
Bomodi said the weapons have been secured, documented and will be formally transferred to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons for statutory action.
โNo Space for Arms Smugglersโ
He described the operation as further proof of sustained surveillance and inter-agency collaboration.
โThe whole-of-government approach involving the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies is critical to tackling arms smuggling,โ Bomodi stated.
He also issued a warning to traffickers:
โThose who believe firearms can be disguised as household goods, concealed in containers or imported with false documentation should know that intelligence-led enforcement, technology, profiling and collaboration are making such schemes increasingly difficult.โ
Bomodi added that the Serviceโs risk management system remains strong, with โno weak links in its architecture.
