Customs intercepts 140 rifles, N373.8m drug cargo in Lagos

Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has seized a container concealing parts of more than 140 pump-action rifles and cannabis-infused products worth N373.8 million at the Tincan Island port, Lagos.

The Public Relations Officer of NCS, Abdullahi Maiwada made this disclosure in a statement on Sunday.

Maiwada stated that the rifle components, identified preliminarily as jojeff pump-action rifles, were discovered after the container was flagged by customs’ intelligence-driven risk management system, leading to the arrest of two suspects while another remains at large.

According to him, in a separate operation, officers seized 109 cartons of delta-8 cannabis infused pre-roll cookies, 125 cartons of gummies and 73 cartons of cannabis-infused cookies concealed alongside other imported goods.

He also echoed the warning of the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi who noted that criminal networks could exploit Nigeria’s borders during the upcoming election cycle.

The Comptroller General vowed to intensify security operations while tackling internal complicity.

Adeniyi called on Nigerians to provide credible intelligence as the service works with sister security agencies to combat smuggling and protect the nation’s borders.