The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A, has intercepted a cache of firearms, ammunition, and two industrial drones manufactured in Italy and the United States, with a duty paid value of N377.1 million, in a major security operation targeting smuggling networks in the South-West.
The Comptroller of the unit, Mohammed Shuaibu, disclosed the seizures during a press briefing yesterday in Ikeja, Lagos. He said the operations were carried out in Ogun and Ondo states between August 7 and 9, 2025, following credible intelligence.
According to him, at about 2:13 a.m. on August 7, customs operatives intercepted a Nissan Almera vehicle along Ilara bush paths near the Ogun border. The driver and passenger reportedly fled into the forest, leaving the vehicle behind.
A search of the vehicle uncovered 15 assorted rifles, including 14 used JOJEF Magnum semi-automatic firearms designed in Italy and one Mossberg pump-action shotgun manufactured in the United States. Officers also recovered 4,841 rounds of live ammunition, bales of used clothing, and cartons of spaghetti concealed inside the car.
In a separate operation two days later, another patrol team intercepted a Volkswagen Sprinter bus along the Akure-Ore axis in Ondo State. Shuaibu said a wooden box inside the bus contained two industrial drones without proper documentation. One suspect was arrested in connection with the seizure.
He explained that the duty paid value of the arms, drones, ammunition, and other items was estimated at N377.1 million. Shuaibu stressed that the importation of arms, ammunition, or drones requires valid approval, permits, and an End User Certificate from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA). He warned that any breach of this requirement would be treated as a deliberate attempt to undermine national security.
“At a time when our nation faces complex security challenges, it is imperative that all stakeholders remain aligned in our collective efforts to prevent these non-state actors from achieving their criminal objectives,” he said.
The intercepted arms and ammunition have since been handed over to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) for further investigation and prosecution.
