Authorities seize nearly 400 guns in raid at Tincan Island Port

The Nigeria Customs Service has completed a thorough examination of a large arms seizure at the Tincan Island Port Command, revealing 399 fully assembled Jojef firearms and a significant collection of additional rifle parts, dealing a significant blow to the illicit arms trade in the country.

n

Abdullah Maiwada, the National Public Relations Officer of the NCS, described the discovery as a major setback for illegal arms proliferation, following a disclosure by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, about the interception of a container with concealed crates of knocked-down rifle components on Thursday, August 6, 2026.

n

The seized rifle parts include 89 frames, 16 heat shields, 10 trigger pins, three pistons, 25 locking lugs, 80 charging handles, 39 pistol-grip screws, 34 springs, 57 trigger groups, 66 foregrip latches, 45 foregrips/handguards, four pistol grips, and five barrels, according to Maiwada.

n

Adeniyi warned that with the approaching general elections, criminal networks may attempt to smuggle prohibited items into the country through Nigeria's borders, ports, and airports, exploiting these vulnerabilities for their gain.

n

The Comptroller-General assured Nigerians that the service would intensify its surveillance and enforcement efforts to prevent such activities and protect the country's security.

n

Adeniyi stated that as the country enters a major election cycle, the service would redouble its efforts to prevent criminal networks from using Nigeria's borders, ports, and airports to bring in illicit items.

n

The service is committed to intelligence-led enforcement, stronger border surveillance, and collaboration with sister security agencies, including the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, to dismantle trafficking networks and safeguard national security.

n

After completing the inventory and assessment of the illicit shipment, the Comptroller-General reiterated that the NCS is preparing to hand over the seized armaments to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, underscoring a unified inter-agency commitment to removing dangerous weapons from the streets and bringing those behind the trafficking network to justice.