Customs intercepts rifle parts, N373.8m cannabis cargo as election security risks rise

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted components believed to be parts of more than 140 pump-action rifles and seized cannabis-infused products valued at ₦373.8 million at the Tincan Island Port in Lagos, raising fresh concerns over the use of Nigeria’s legitimate trade corridors for organised crime.

The seizures, announced by Adewale Adeniyi, the Comptroller-General of Customs, on Thursday, August 6, highlight the growing security risks posed by the smuggling of firearms and illicit drugs through the ports as Nigeria approaches another major electoral cycle.

According to Adeniyi, the firearms components were discovered in a container that arrived aboard MV VELIKA on July 8 and had been selected for enhanced scrutiny through the Customs Service’s intelligence-led risk management system.

A detailed examination of the container uncovered concealed crates containing knocked-down components preliminarily identified as JoJeff pump-action rifles.

The operation has so far resulted in the arrest of two suspects, while Customs continues to track another principal suspect believed to be connected with the consignment.

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The interception comes amid heightened concerns that criminal networks could exploit Nigeria’s borders, ports and airports to move weapons into the country ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Adeniyi said the Service was particularly concerned about attempts by criminal groups to exploit increased commercial activity and weaknesses in legitimate supply chains.

“We are about entering a major election cycle, and we know that by this period, men of the underworld will want to use our borders, our ports, our airports to bring in items like this,” he said.

“We are going to redouble our efforts to ensure that we do not allow them to do so.”

In a separate operation, Customs officers intercepted two 40-foot containers carrying cannabis-infused products concealed among used vehicles, generators, batteries and other imported goods.

The seized consignments comprised 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.

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Customs put the combined street value of the cannabis products at ₦373,802,640.

The seizures point to the increasingly sophisticated methods being adopted by transnational criminal networks, which are disguising prohibited goods within legitimate cargoes in an attempt to evade border controls.

Adeniyi said the latest interceptions demonstrated the importance of intelligence gathering, cargo profiling and inter-agency cooperation in disrupting organised smuggling networks.

He said Customs would also focus on preventing internal collusion, warning that officers who facilitate the movement of prohibited goods would face consequences.

“The Nigeria Customs Service will not harbour any of these people who want to serve as accomplices or use their position to influence the importation of goods that will threaten our peace and security and the peaceful conduct of the next general election,” he said.

The Customs chief called on members of the public to provide credible intelligence that could assist security agencies in identifying smuggling networks and preventing the movement of arms and narcotics into the country.

He commended officers of the Tincan Island Port Command and the Customs Enforcement Unit for their vigilance, saying the Service would continue to identify, arrest and prosecute individuals involved in the consignments.

The latest operation also reinforces the growing security dimension of Nigeria’s trade facilitation system, where Customs is increasingly relying on intelligence-led inspections rather than routine physical examination of cargo.

For the Service, the challenge is now to maintain the balance between facilitating legitimate imports and tightening controls against criminal networks seeking to exploit Nigeria’s international trade infrastructure.