The Maritime Correspondents’ Organisation of Nigeria (MARCON) has commended the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for intercepting a major arms consignment and cannabis-infused products at the Tin Can Island Port Command in Lagos.
MARCON said the seizures were a significant contribution to national security and urged security agencies and port stakeholders to heighten surveillance at the nation’s ports and borders to prevent criminal networks from exploiting legitimate maritime trade channels.
In a statement issued by its President, Ismail Aniemu, and Secretary, Olamide Osho, the organisation praised Customs officers for their intelligence-led approach to cargo profiling and examination.
On Thursday, August 6, the NCS announced the interception of a container aboard MV VELIKA, which arrived at the Tin Can Island Port on July 8.
The container was flagged by the Customs intelligence-driven risk management system for enhanced monitoring, leading to a detailed examination.
The initial examination uncovered concealed crates containing knocked-down components, preliminarily identified as Jojef pump-action rifles.
However, following the completion of the coupling and a more detailed examination of the consignment on Sunday, August 9, Customs confirmed the recovery of 399 fully assembled Jojef firearms.
The examination also revealed 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 or handguards, four pistol grips and five barrels.
Two suspects have been arrested in connection with the arms shipment, while another principal suspect remains at large and is being actively tracked, according to the NCS.
MARCON said the interception demonstrated the importance of intelligence gathering and effective cargo profiling in protecting the country’s maritime gateways.
The organisation urged authorities to sustain and strengthen surveillance across the ports, borders and other entry points, warning that criminal networks could seek to exploit the country’s legitimate trade infrastructure to move prohibited items. MARCON backs FG’s National Single Window project, hails move to boost trade efficiency
In a separate operation at the Tin Can Island Port Command, Customs officers intercepted two 40-foot containers carrying cannabis-infused products concealed among used vehicles, generators, batteries and other imported goods.
The seized products comprised 109 cartons of Delta-8 cannabis-infused pre-roll cookies, 125 cartons of Delta-8 cannabis-infused gummies and 73 cartons of cannabis-infused cookies.
The combined street value of the cannabis-infused products was estimated at N373.8 million.
MARCON also commended officers of the Tin Can Island Port Command and the Customs Enforcement Unit for what it described as vigilance and professionalism in uncovering the consignments.
The organisation said continued collaboration between the Customs Service, other security agencies and maritime stakeholders was essential to disrupting trafficking networks and protecting the country’s economic gateways.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, had warned that criminal networks could attempt to exploit Nigeria’s borders, ports and airports ahead of the next general elections to move prohibited items into the country.
Adeniyi said the Service would intensify enforcement operations to frustrate such activities, while cautioning against internal compromise within the Customs system.
He also disclosed that the seized firearms would be handed over to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), under the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), as part of efforts to remove illicit weapons from circulation.
MARCON said sustained inter-agency cooperation would be critical to securing Nigeria’s maritime domain while ensuring that the country’s ports remain open to legitimate trade and commerce.
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