Nigeria Customs Achieves Significant Enforcement Milestone at Lagos Port

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has achieved a significant enforcement success at the Tincan Island Port Command in Lagos by intercepting concealed pump-action rifle parts and cannabis-infused products valued at N373.8 million.

Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, told newsmen at the Tincan Command that the seizures were a demonstration of the Service’s intelligence-led strategy in fighting smuggling and other transnational crimes.

Adeniyi said one of the intercepted containers, TEMU 184536/9, had come to Tincan Port on July 8 on board a vessel, MV VELIKA.

“The container raised alarms in the Customs risk management system and was quickly placed under close watch,” he said.

“A physical exam at the Customs Enforcement Station uncovered hidden wooden crates holding disassembled parts for JoJeff pump-action rifles,” he said.

The Comptroller-General said the recovered parts of the firearm were being subjected to detailed technical assessment and inventory to determine the exact quantity and specifications.

He said that the investigation of the consignment led to the arrest of a suspect on July 31, 2026 at the Migfo Bonded Terminal while he was allegedly attempting to facilitate the release of the container.

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Preliminary investigations, he said, revealed documentary, financial and telecommunications evidence linking the suspect to the consignee named in the import documents.

Evidence included a N10,000 transfer from a company account linked to the consignee on the day of the arrest.

Adeniyi revealed that two suspects are currently in custody while another principal suspect is at large and being tracked by security operatives.

In a separate operation Customs officers seized two 40-foot containers of cannabis-infused products hidden among other imported products.

The goods were concealed with two used vehicles, two used pumping generators, polypropylene spunbond fabric, tubular batteries and thunder arrester cables.

“Items recovered from the containers 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,” he said.

The Customs Service put the combined street value of the seized cannabis products at N373,802,640.

Adeniyi said the seizures underscore the growing sophistication of criminal networks that exploit legitimate trade channels to smuggle weapons and illicit drugs into the country.

He gave the assurance that all those involved in the illegal shipments would be found, arrested and prosecuted according to law.

The Comptroller-General commended officers and men of the Tincan Island Port Command and the Customs Enforcement Unit for their vigilance and professionalism, stressing that the Service is committed to securing Nigeria’s borders while facilitating legitimate trade.