The seizures were announced by Comptroller Mohammed Shuaibu, Controller of the FOU Zone A, during a press briefing at the unit’s headquarters in Ikeja, Lagos. He said the operations, carried out across Ogun and Ondo states, were part of ongoing efforts to secure Nigeria’s borders against illegal trade and threats to national security.
According to Shuaibu, officers on patrol along bush paths near Ilara, Ogun State, intercepted a Nissan Almera suspected to be laden with contraband. Upon inspection, the vehicle was discovered to contain 15 rifles—including 14 Italian-made JOJEF Magnum semi-automatic firearms and a Mossberg pump-action shotgun from the United States—as well as 4,841 rounds of live ammunition.
The items had been carefully hidden inside bales of second-hand clothing and cartons of spaghetti. He disclosed that the driver and a passenger abandoned the vehicle and fled upon sighting the officers.
In another operation on August 9, 2025, Customs operatives along the Akure-Ore axis in Ondo State intercepted a Volkswagen Sprinter bus carrying two industrial drones concealed in a wooden box without proper documentation. One suspect was arrested in connection with the case.
Shuaibu stressed that the importation of arms, ammunition, and drones without proper documentation, including an End User Certificate from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), is a violation of national security laws.
“These seizures demonstrate the Nigeria Customs Service’s unwavering commitment under the leadership of Comptroller-General Adewale Adeniyi to combating smuggling and securing the nation’s borders from the activities of non-state actors,” he said.
He commended his officers for their professionalism, attributing the successful interceptions to intelligence gathering and tactical planning.
Shuaibu further assured that the seized arms and ammunition would be handed over to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) for further investigation and prosecution. He also urged Nigerians to assist security agencies by reporting suspicious movements in their communities.
