Customs Service Hands Over 3897 Seized Arms, Ammunition To FG

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Thursday handed over a total of 3897 arms and ammunition to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW).

Speaking during the handover ceremony, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, stated that 1599 arms and 2298 rounds of ammunition were handed over.

Adeniyi explained that the seized arms and ammunition were intercepted between 2018 and 2024.

He noted that in 2018, the Service intercepted 440 arms concealed in 516 bags of plaster of Paris.

The CGC added that the seizure highlighted the Service’s active collaboration with stakeholders to keep illegal weapons off the streets and strengthen public safety.

He recalled that in May 2018, the Service intercepted a significant batch of arms, including 440 pump-action rifles and accessories, ingeniously concealed within 516 bags of plaster of Paris cement in a 20-foot container numbered PONU 210024/1. 

Through sustained intelligence operations, Adeniyi said the Service intercepted two additional containers with registration numbers CMAU 189817/8 and GESU 255208/1 at Tincan Island Port, which similarly contained arms and ammunition hidden among sanitary wares.

“Today’s handover encompasses a total of 1,599 assorted arms and 2,298 live cartridges recovered from these operations,” Adeniyi said.

He added that the seizure coincided with heightened security challenges from armed bandits in the Northwest and the proliferation of illegal arms in the Southeast.

Providing details of the interception, Adeniyi said the Service deployed forensic capabilities to conduct detailed electronic analysis of Customs documentation and shipping records through established diplomatic channels.

He explained that the NCS partnered with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to engage Turkish authorities, leading to the definitive identification of the purchasing company.