Customs Intercepts 140 Pump-Action Rifles, Cannabis-Infused Products Worth ₦373.8 Million at Tin Can Port

Customs Intercepts 140 Pump-Action Rifles, Cannabis-Infused Products Worth ₦373.8 Million at Tin Can Port

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has recorded another major breakthrough in its anti-smuggling campaign with the interception of a container carrying concealed parts of pump-action rifles and the seizure of illicit cannabis-infused products valued at ₦373.8 million at the Tincan Island Port Command. Two suspects are currently in custody assisting investigators, while the principal importer of the firearms remains at large and is being actively tracked by security agencies. Addressing journalists during a press briefing on Thursday, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, described the seizures as a significant victory against transnational criminal networks exploiting Nigeria’s seaports to smuggle prohibited weapons and dangerous narcotics into the country. He warned that the intercepted items pose serious threats to national security and public health, reaffirming the Service’s commitment to preventing Nigeria’s ports from becoming safe havens for illicit trade.

According to Adeniyi, the operation followed intelligence-driven surveillance after Container No. TEMU 184536/9, which arrived aboard MV VELIKA on July 8, 2026, was flagged by the Service’s risk management system for enhanced scrutiny. Acting on credible intelligence, officers of the command placed the container under surveillance and subjected it to a detailed physical examination at the Customs Enforcement Station. A comprehensive physical examination uncovered concealed crates containing knocked-down components preliminarily identified as JoJeff pump-action rifles. As of the time of the briefing, Customs officials had reassembled 140 double-barrel pump-action rifles from the recovered parts, with counting and assembly of remaining components still ongoing. The recovered components are currently undergoing detailed technical examination and inventory to determine their exact quantity and configuration, which will inform the full charges to be filed against the suspects.

Investigations following the interception led to the arrest of a key suspect on July 31, 2026, at the Migfo Bonded Terminal while the individual was allegedly attempting to facilitate the release of the container. Customs disclosed that documentary evidence, financial records, and telecommunications analysis established links between the suspect and the named consignee on the shipping documents. Among the evidence cited was a ₦10,000 payment traced to a company account directly linked to the consignee of the container on the day of the arrest, providing a crucial forensic link between the suspect and the illegal shipment. The Service confirmed that two suspects are currently in custody assisting investigators with their inquiries, while another principal suspect remains at large and is being actively pursued by security agencies across multiple jurisdictions.

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In a separate enforcement operation conducted concurrently, Customs officers intercepted two 40-foot containers loaded with cannabis-infused products cleverly concealed alongside legitimate imports, including two used vehicles, two used pumping generators, rolls of blue polypropylene spunbond fabric, new tubular batteries, and thunder arrester cables. The sophisticated concealment method demonstrated the lengths to which international trafficking syndicates are willing to go to evade detection. The seizures comprised 109 cartons of Delta-8 cannabis-infused pre-roll cookies containing 8,720 pieces (17.44kg) valued at ₦308.7 million, 125 cartons of Delta-8 cannabis-infused gummies comprising 740 packs (515.2kg) valued at ₦40.7 million, and 73 cartons of cannabis-infused cookies containing 442 packs (309.4kg) valued at ₦24.3 million. The total estimated street value of the seized illicit substances stands at ₦373,802,640, representing one of the largest seizures of cannabis-infused products by the Service in recent years.

The Comptroller-General noted that the interceptions highlight the increasing sophistication of international criminal syndicates using legitimate trade channels to traffic prohibited weapons and narcotic substances. He added that the successful operations reaffirm the effectiveness of the Service’s intelligence-driven enforcement strategy, advanced risk profiling mechanisms, and strong collaboration with sister security agencies, particularly the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). Adeniyi warned that the cannabis-infused products were attractively packaged with flavours such as citrus, vanilla, pine, and peach pie to resemble ordinary snacks, making them particularly appealing to children, students, and other young people. He cautioned that unsuspecting consumers could unknowingly ingest the products because of their deceptive packaging, highlighting a growing public health crisis that extends beyond traditional drug enforcement concerns.

Receiving the seized items, the Commander of Narcotics at the NDLEA TinCan Strategic Command, Augustine Adewunmi, described cannabis-infused cookies, gummies, and smoothies as an emerging threat to public safety. He warned that the products, imported from the United States, were packaged as vegan snacks to deceive unsuspecting consumers and were designed to appeal to children, students, and club users, significantly increasing the risk of accidental drug consumption among vulnerable populations. He reaffirmed the Service’s determination to identify, apprehend, and prosecute all individuals connected to the criminal networks, declaring that “Nigeria’s ports will never be safe havens for the trafficking of illicit weapons, narcotics, or other prohibited goods.”

The Customs boss commended officers and men of the Tincan Island Port Command and the Customs Enforcement Unit for their vigilance, professionalism, and dedication, while also appreciating the support of partner security and law enforcement agencies, including the NDLEA. He assured Nigerians that the Service remains committed to securing the nation’s borders, facilitating legitimate trade, and preventing the importation of prohibited goods, urging members of the public to continue providing credible intelligence to support the fight against smuggling and organised transnational crime. The Nigeria Customs Service stated that investigations are ongoing and pledged to keep the public informed as prosecutions commence. Adeniyi further disclosed that the Service is working closely with international law enforcement partners to track the financial networks behind the illegal shipments, with a view to dismantling the entire criminal enterprise rather than merely intercepting individual consignments.

Customs Intercepts 140 Pump-Action Rifles, Cannabis-Infused Products Worth ₦373.8 Million at Tin Can Port