The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced a significant interception of illegal arms, ammunition, and military-grade drones valued at over ₦377 million ($230,000), in a operation aimed at curbing the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the country.
The seizure, described as one of the largest in recent months, underscores the NCS's renewed vigor in combating smuggling activities at Nigeria's borders.
According to a statement from the NCS headquarters in Abuja, the contraband was intercepted at the Tincan Island Command in Lagos last week during a routine scanning of a container arriving from a high-risk origin in Eastern Europe.
The shipment, concealed among legitimate cargo of electronics and machinery, included over 200 assault rifles, thousands of rounds of ammunition, and several unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) capable of surveillance and potential explosive delivery.
Initial investigations revealed the items were destined for underground networks in the North-Central and North-East regions, where insecurity remains a pressing challenge.
NCS Comptroller-General, Bashir Adeniyi, praised the vigilance of officers involved, stating, "This interception not only prevents the escalation of banditry and terrorism but also protects our national economy from the illicit trade that fuels crime."
He emphasized that the service's deployment of advanced scanning technology and intelligence-sharing with other security agencies was pivotal to the success.
The suspects linked to the shipment have been handed over to the Department of State Services (DSS) for further interrogation, with the NCS vowing to pursue all leads to dismantle the smuggling ring.
This bust comes amid heightened efforts by the federal government to stem the flow of illegal weapons into Nigeria, following a surge in attacks by armed groups in 2025.
The NCS has invited the public to report suspicious activities, promising zero tolerance for smuggling. As investigations continue, authorities anticipate more arrests in this high-profile case.
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Those responsible for such importation of weapons and even drones should be interrogated, dismantled and prosecuted. This’s the problem we have in this country, there are damages and blockades in our judicial system in Nigeria. Those arrested can eventually be set free tomorrow and the matter will be resolved without any charges or punishment. For such individuals, they merit capital punishment because they are criminals. They are not supposed to be roaming the streets when they have spilled the blood of the fellow citizens. They must have politicians who are behind them and financing them. All these people should be arrested, brought to justice and jailed them and even banned them from participating in politics for a long period of time. There is need to overhaul and the re-foundation of our justice system and process in Nigeria, because the system has no merit any transparency to exist. This’s extremely shameful for a country that is said to be the greatest economy in Africa.
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