Tin Can Customs Intercepts 204 Pump-action Rifles, Hands Over to NCCSALW
Bomodi and others during the handover
By Daniel Chijindu
The Tin Can Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Monday announced the interception of 204 pump-action rifles.
This is coming about two weeks after the Command intercepted 399 pump-action rifles in the port.
Deputy Comptroller General of the Customs, Mr. Timi Bomodi disclosed this at a press conference in Lagos.
Bomodi who represented the Comptroller General of the Service, Dr. Adewale Adeniyi said that the items which came from Turkey were discovered during a 100 percent examination at the port.
According to Bomodi, “Based on credible information gathered a 20-foot container with No. TEMU 184536/9, arrived from Turkey aboard vessel MV Algeciras Express on 16 August 2026, was flagged and subjected to a 100 percent physical examination on 18 August, 2026. After thorough examination, the container was found to contain knocked-down firearm components concealed among declared used goods, including furnitures, refrigerators, solar panels and detergent. Further discrepancies were also discovered in the consignment documents, particularly regarding the identity of the consignee. These discrepancies are part of the ongoing investigation into the shipment and those connected to it.
“The Command immediately put together a team of experts from the Nigeria Customs Service Armament Unit and that of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Lights weapons, under the Office of the National Security Adviser, to carry out the assembling of these component parts and a total of 204 MAS 49 ALTER MAGNUM pump-action rifles alongside various numbers of left-over components were uncovered.
“The current seizure is a further indication that the Service is maintaining heightened surveillance and intelligence-led enforcement against the illicit movement of firearms through our ports and borders”.
The items on Monday formally handed over to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons for appropriate statutory action.
The Customs Chief added, “This operation underscores the importance of intelligence-sharing and collaboration between the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies. This whole of Government approach to the menace of Arms smuggling and other criminal activities at our ports and borders has proven to be very effective as attested to by this seizure.
“ Let me use this opportunity to reiterate the warning of the CGC to smugglers, arms traffickers and their collaborators that illegal arms will not find its way to the wrong end of the value chain and the space for concealment is becoming increasingly limited. Our risk management system is very robust and effective, there are no weak links in our architecture, so, those who believe that firearms can be disguised as household goods, concealed in containers or imported through false or inconsistent documentation should understand that intelligence-led enforcement, technological tools, profiling and inter-agency collaboration are making such schemes increasingly difficult to execute.
“ The Service will continue to collaborate with all relevant authorities to identify, intercept and investigate consignments that pose a threat to national security. We will also pursue the networks behind such consignments and not merely focus on the physical seizure of the prohibited items. Our objective is to expose the entire chain involved in the illicit movement of firearms from the source and shipment to the intended destination and beneficiaries. We also encourage members of the trading public, especially the clearing agents who may have any information that can lead to the arrest of would-be importers of these items to come forward. Their assistance in this regards should be considered a patriotic duty”.
The Zonal Director South West Zone of the National Center for the control of Small Arms and Light Weapons – CP Abiodun Alamutu – PSC Rtd, in his speech during the handover commended the Customs for the interception of the fire arms.
Alamutu said one could imagine if the items were not seized and the danger it will be to the society.
S/N QTY DESCRIPTION
1. 39 TRIGGER PIN
2. 58 LOCKING LUGS
3. 53 CHARGING HANDLE
4. 55 PISTOL GRIP SCREWS
5. 56 SPRINGS
6. 56 TRIGGER GROUP
7. 38 FORWARD GRIP (HAND GUARD)
8. 67 FORWARD GRIP LATCH
9. 56 PISTOL GRIP
10. 54 BARREL
11. 2 U – PLATE
The Tin Can Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Monday announced the interception of 204 pump-action rifles.
This is coming about two weeks after the Command intercepted 399 pump-action rifles in the port.
Deputy Comptroller General of the Customs, Mr. Timi Bomodi disclosed this at a press conference in Lagos.
Bomodi who represented the Comptroller General of the Service, Dr. Adewale Adeniyi said that the items which came from Turkey were discovered during a 100 percent examination at the port.
According to Bomodi, “Based on credible information gathered a 20-foot container with No. TEMU 184536/9, arrived from Turkey aboard vessel MV Algeciras Express on 16 August 2026, was flagged and subjected to a 100 percent physical examination on 18 August, 2026. After thorough examination, the container was found to contain knocked-down firearm components concealed among declared used goods, including furnitures, refrigerators, solar panels and detergent. Further discrepancies were also discovered in the consignment documents, particularly regarding the identity of the consignee. These discrepancies are part of the ongoing investigation into the shipment and those connected to it.
“The Command immediately put together a team of experts from the Nigeria Customs Service Armament Unit and that of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Lights weapons, under the Office of the National Security Adviser, to carry out the assembling of these component parts and a total of 204 MAS 49 ALTER MAGNUM pump-action rifles alongside various numbers of left-over components were uncovered.
“The current seizure is a further indication that the Service is maintaining heightened surveillance and intelligence-led enforcement against the illicit movement of firearms through our ports and borders”.
The items on Monday formally handed over to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons for appropriate statutory action.
The Customs Chief added, “This operation underscores the importance of intelligence-sharing and collaboration between the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies. This whole of Government approach to the menace of Arms smuggling and other criminal activities at our ports and borders has proven to be very effective as attested to by this seizure.
“ Let me use this opportunity to reiterate the warning of the CGC to smugglers, arms traffickers and their collaborators that illegal arms will not find its way to the wrong end of the value chain and the space for concealment is becoming increasingly limited. Our risk management system is very robust and effective, there are no weak links in our architecture, so, those who believe that firearms can be disguised as household goods, concealed in containers or imported through false or inconsistent documentation should understand that intelligence-led enforcement, technological tools, profiling and inter-agency collaboration are making such schemes increasingly difficult to execute.
“ The Service will continue to collaborate with all relevant authorities to identify, intercept and investigate consignments that pose a threat to national security. We will also pursue the networks behind such consignments and not merely focus on the physical seizure of the prohibited items. Our objective is to expose the entire chain involved in the illicit movement of firearms from the source and shipment to the intended destination and beneficiaries. We also encourage members of the trading public, especially the clearing agents who may have any information that can lead to the arrest of would-be importers of these items to come forward. Their assistance in this regards should be considered a patriotic duty”.
The Zonal Director South West Zone of the National Center for the control of Small Arms and Light Weapons – CP Abiodun Alamutu – PSC Rtd, in his speech during the handover commended the Customs for the interception of the fire arms.
Alamutu said one could imagine if the items were not seized and the danger it will be to the society.
S/N QTY DESCRIPTION
1. 39 TRIGGER PIN
2. 58 LOCKING LUGS
3. 53 CHARGING HANDLE
4. 55 PISTOL GRIP SCREWS
5. 56 SPRINGS
6. 56 TRIGGER GROUP
7. 38 FORWARD GRIP (HAND GUARD)
8. 67 FORWARD GRIP LATCH
9. 56 PISTOL GRIP
10. 54 BARREL
11. 2 U – PLATE
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