Smuggled Attempts Failed: Another Set of Firearms Intercepted at the Tincan Island Port

By Stella Okocha 

The Nigeria Customs Service, Tincan Island Port Command has recorded yet another significant seizure of firearms, thereby preventing the importation and circulation of illegally imported firearms into Nigeria.

Representing the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, the Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Enforcement, Investigation and Inspection, DCG Timinadi Bomodi, recalled that the CGC paid a working visit to the Command on the 18th of August, 2026, where he briefed the press on the interception of knocked-down components of firearms, totalling 399 pump-action rifles, which was handed over to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons NCCSALW.

According to DCG Timinadi, he said the 20ft 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.

In his words, “the activities of these agents of darkness have once again necessitated our gathering here today and I am glad to inform you that once again, the efforts and commitment of our brave and dedicated officers have made good to triumph evil.

“Based on credible information gathered a 20-foot container After thorough examination, the container was found to contain knocked-down firearm components concealed among declared used goods, including furniture, refrigerators, solar panels and detergent”.

He stated that 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.

He emphasized that the timely and immediate put together of the firearms by the NCS Armament Unit, in collaboration with NCCSALW under the Office of the National Security Adviser, assembled the component parts and a total of 204 MAS 49 ALTER MAGNUM pump-action rifles alongside various numbers of left-over components were uncovered.

He highlighted that the various leftover parts of the firearms include : 39 TRIGGER PIN, 58 LOCKING LUGS, 53 CHARGING HAND, 55 PISTOL GRIP SCREWS, 56 SPRINGS, 56 TRIGGER GROUP, 38 FORWARD GRIP (HAND GUARD, 67) FORWARD GRIP LATC, 56 PISTOL GRIP, 54 BARREL and n 2 U – PLATE.

He pointed out that 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 have been secured, documented and will be formally handed over to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons for appropriate statutory action. 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 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” Bomodi said.

He also seized the 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.

His words, “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”.

He reassured that the Service will continue to collaborate with all relevant authorities to identify, intercept and investigate consignments that pose a threat to national security.

He said they 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”.

He also encouraged 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, stating that their assistance in this regards should be considered a patriotic duty.

The Customs Area Controller (CAC), of the Command, Comptoller Joe Anani, in his welcome address, reaffirms that the Command will continue to remain vigilant in the discharge of their responsibilities, since this is not the first time this month they are coming together for an exercise of this nature.

He stated that these repeated seizures send a clear message that the TinCan Island Port Command will not be a weak link in the enforcement of import prohibitions, particularly when it concerns dangerous items capable of threatening the peace and security of the nation.

Anani added that “those who see our ports as an easy route for bringing prohibited and dangerous items into Nigeria should understand that they will not find a willing partner in the Nigeria Customs Service”.

“I also wish to particularly acknowledge the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons for the tremendous cooperation it has consistently extended to this Command. This collaboration has gone beyond mere words. Our armament units worked together, spending countless hours carefully coupling and assembling the knocked-down parts of these firearms to establish exactly what had been intercepted. It is a practical demonstration of what can be achieved when security agencies work together with a common purpose”.

CAC Anani also commended the officers and men of the TinCan Island Port Command for their vigilance, courage and dedication that made these seizures possible. “Behind every interception is an officer who has taken a decision to do the right thing, sometimes under difficult circumstances. I am proud of their bravery and commitment to duty” Anani said.