The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, has said the Service in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser ONSA, has commenced deep investigation into the illegal importation of large number of arms comprising pump-action guns at the Tin Island Port, Lagos.

The CGC flagged on his immediate right by an official of the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control NAFDAC, and officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA, displaying some of the seized cookies laced with cannabis before newsmen.

The guns, concealed in a 20-foot container were brought in as completely knocked down CKD, parts, loaded in cartons. At the time of filing this report, operatives of the Enforcement Unit of the Tin Can Island Command of the Service have successfully assembled a total of 140 pieces of the guns, while several cartons of the CKD parts have not been assembled.

The Comptroller-General, who briefed newsmen in Lagos, Thursday, also disclosed that in a separate operation, operatives of the Command, acting on credible intelligence intercepted two 40-foot containers laden with cannabis-infused products, which include cookies concealed among imported goods.

“Before I left Abuja today to attend this media briefing, I had to meet with the National Security Adviser and I have briefed him accordingly and he has assured that his office will do everything possible in assisting us unravel the motive and other factors that may informed the illegal importation of this amount of arms, especially at a time when the country is planning to go into a major election”, he said.

The CGC, who gave vivid description of how the illegal importations were seized in two separate operations said: “On July 8, 2026, container no. TEMU 184536/9 arrived at Tin Can Island Port aboard MV VELIKA and was flagged through our intelligence-driven risk management system for enhanced monitoring.

 Acting on credible intelligence, officers placed the container under surveillance and subsequently subjected it to a detailed physical examination at the Customs Enforcement Station.

“The examination uncovered concealed crates containing knocked-down components preliminarily identified as JoJeff pump-action rifles, which are currently undergoing detailed technical examination and inventory to determine the exact quantity and configuration.

“As at the time of putting down these reports, 140 pieces of double-barrel Jojef pump-action rifles have been discovered. The counting is still in progress, and as soon as that is completed, we will give the exact figures in items of the total number of guns involved.

“Like I mentioned earlier, working with the Office of the National Security Adviser, we have commenced investigations, which extended beyond the seizure, and on July 31, 2026, one suspect was arrested at Migfo Bonded Terminal while attempting to facilitate the release of the container.

“Documentary evidence, financial records, and telecommunications analyses have established the suspect’s connection with the named consignee, including a ?10,000 payment received from a company account linked to the consignee on the day of his arrest.

Two suspects are currently in custody assisting investigators, while another principal suspect remains at large and is being actively pursued.”

The CGC, who also gave details on the seizure of the cannabis-infused cookies, disclosed that officers intercepted two 40-foot containers conveying the illicit cannabis-infused products concealed alongside two used vehicles, two used pumping generators, rolls of blue polypropylene spunbond fabric, new tubular batteries, and thunder arrester cables.

Details of the seizure show that 109 cartons of Delta-8 cannabis-infused pre-roll cookies containing a total of 8,720 pieces; weighing17.44kg and valued at ?308.8million, 125 cartons of Delta-8 cannabis-infused gummies containing 740 packs weighing 515.2kg with a street value put at ?40.7million and another 73 cartons of cannabis-infused cookies containing 442 packs, weighing 309.4kg valued at ?24.3million, all totaling N373.8million in terms of street value.

While assuring Nigerians that the Service under his watch is leaving no stone unturned in protecting them, noted that the seizures demonstrate the growing sophistication of transnational criminal networks that exploit legitimate trade channels to traffic illicit weapons and dangerous narcotic products.

“However, these operations underscore our unwavering commitment to protecting Nigeria’s borders from prohibited imports that threaten national security and public health; and also reaffirm the effectiveness of the Nigeria Customs Service’s intelligence-driven enforcement strategy, advanced risk profiling systems, and strong inter-agency collaboration.

“The Nigeria Customs Service will stop at nothing to identify, track, arrest, and prosecute every individual connected to these criminal enterprises. Nigeria’s seaports will never be safe havens for the trafficking of illicit weapons, narcotics, or other prohibited goods.

“This is a very delicate period for Nigeria. We are about entering a major election cycle and we know that at this period, men of the underworld will want to use our borders, our seaports, our airports to bring in items like these.

“All hands must be on deck and this is why we invite Nigerians to join us. When you have any information or intelligence that could lead us to these criminal people, do not hesitate to contact us.

“We are going to redouble our efforts to ensure that we do not allow them to succeed in their wicked enterprise. While they make attempts, they will want to find accomplices within the Customs and other security agencies.

“I want to assure Nigerians that Nigeria Customs Service will not have any of these people who will want to serve as accomplices or use their positions to influence the importation of goods that will threaten our peace and security and threaten the credibility and peaceful conduct of the next general election”, he warned.