The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Tincan Island Command, has intercepted 204 pump-action rifles and handed them over to the National Centre for Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW).

The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adeniyi, disclosed this during a briefing on Monday in Lagos.

Mr Adeniyi said the seizure followed credible intelligence and sustained efforts to prevent illegal arms importation through the nation’s ports.

He recalled that on August 18, he briefed journalists on a previous interception involving firearm components assembled into 399 rifles.

He said the 399 rifles were handed over to NCCSALW alongside two suspects for further action.

Mr Adeniyi, who was represented by Tomi Bomodi, Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs, Enforcement Investigation and Inspection, said officers’ commitment had again triumphed over criminal elements.

The CGC said the development underscored the need for continuous vigilance at the nation’s seaports and land borders.

He commended the officers for their dedication and said their efforts would be appreciated, encouraging greater proactiveness in discharging their duties.

“A 20-foot container, No. TEMU 184536/9, arrived from Turkey aboard MV Algeciras Express on August 16. It was flagged and subjected to 100 per cent examination on August 18.

“Examination revealed knocked-down firearm components concealed among declared used goods, including furniture, refrigerators, solar panels and detergent.

“Discrepancies were also found in consignment documents and consignee details,” Mr Adeniyi said.

He said a joint team of customs armament experts and NCCSALW officials assembled the parts and recovered 204 MAS 49 Alter Magnum pump-action rifles.

Mr Adeniyi said various firearm components, including barrels, triggers and springs, were also recovered.

He said the items had been secured and documented for formal handover to the NCCSALW for statutory action.

Mr Adeniyi said inter-agency collaboration remained critical to combating arms smuggling and dismantling criminal networks involved in the illicit trade.

He warned smugglers that customs’ intelligence-led enforcement and technology were closing loopholes used to conceal prohibited items.

The CGC urged clearing agents to provide information that could help security agencies dismantle networks behind illicit arms importation.

In his response, the zonal coordinator, South-West, NCCSALW, Commissioner of Police, Babatunde Alamutu, said the seizure showed intelligence-led enforcement was working against arms smuggling.

He recalled that on August 18, the CGC handed over 399 assembled rifles to NCCSALW.

Mr Alamutu said the latest interception involved a 20-foot container from Turkey, flagged following credible information and examined on August 18.

He said officers discovered knocked-down firearm components concealed among used furniture, refrigerators, solar panels and detergents.

Mr Alamutu said discrepancies in the consignment documents also triggered further investigation into those connected with the shipment.

“A joint team of customs armament experts and NCCSALW officials assembled the parts and recovered 204 MAS 49 Magnum rifles.

“They also recovered components including triggers, barrels, springs, grips and locking systems,” he said.

Mr Alamutu commended the inter-agency collaboration and urged traders to volunteer information on persons involved in arms importation.

He warned that technology, profiling and intelligence sharing had made concealment of firearms increasingly difficult at Nigerian ports.

Also speaking, the Customs Area Controller, Tincan Island Command, Joseph Anani, said the command would not be a weak link in enforcing import prohibitions.

Mr Anani said this was particularly important regarding dangerous items capable of threatening national peace and security.

He commended the NCCSALW for collaborating with customs intelligence units to assemble the knocked-down firearm parts and confirm the quantity intercepted.

Mr Anani commended the officers of the Tincan Island command for their vigilance, courage and dedication, noting that every interception reflected a decision to do the right thing.

He said officers often made such decisions under difficult operational circumstances.

Mr Anani said the handover was about protecting lives and preserving national security.

He urged the media to continue educating Nigerians on the dangers of arms trafficking and the importance of legitimate port trade.

(NAN)