The Nigeria Customs Service on Thursday intercepted a container of concealed pump-action rifle components and seized cannabis-infused products worth ₦373.8 million at the Tincan Island Port Command, in what officials described as a significant blow to transnational smuggling networks.
Comptroller-General of Customs Adewale Adeniyi announced the seizures during a press briefing. He said Container No. TEMU 184536/9, which arrived on the vessel MV VELIKA on July 8, 2026, was flagged by the Service’s risk management system for enhanced scrutiny.
A physical examination at the Customs Enforcement Station uncovered crates containing knocked-down parts preliminarily identified as JoJeff pump-action rifles. The components are undergoing technical examination and inventory to establish their exact quantity and configuration.
Investigators arrested one suspect on July 31 at the Migfo Bonded Terminal while the individual attempted to clear the container. Documentary evidence, financial records and telecommunications data linked the suspect to the named consignee, including a ₦10,000 payment into a company account associated with the consignee on the day of the arrest.
Two suspects are currently in custody assisting investigators. A principal suspect remains at large and is being actively tracked by law enforcement agencies.
In a separate operation, officers intercepted two 40-foot containers that concealed cannabis-infused products among legitimate cargo, including used vehicles, pumping generators, blue polypropylene spunbond fabric, tubular batteries and thunder arrester cables.
The cannabis seizures comprised:
109 cartons of Delta-8 cannabis-infused pre-roll cookies (8,720 pieces, 17.44 kg) valued at ₦308.7 million
125 cartons of Delta-8 cannabis-infused gummies (740 packs, 515.2 kg) valued at ₦40.7 million
73 cartons of cannabis-infused cookies (442 packs, 309.4 kg) valued at ₦24.3 million
The total estimated street value stands at ₦373,802,640.
Adeniyi said the interceptions demonstrate the growing sophistication of criminal syndicates that exploit legitimate trade channels to move prohibited weapons and narcotics. He credited intelligence-driven enforcement, advanced risk profiling and cooperation with other security agencies for the breakthroughs.
“Nigeria’s ports will never be safe havens for the trafficking of illicit weapons, narcotics or other prohibited goods,” the Comptroller-General declared. He pledged that investigations would continue and that all those linked to the networks would face prosecution.
The Service urged members of the public to provide credible intelligence in support of the fight against smuggling and organised transnational crime.
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