The Maritime Correspondents’ Organisation of Nigeria (MARCON) has said the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) interception of a major arms shipment and cannabis-infused products at the Tin Can Island Port underscores the importance of intelligence-led enforcement and effective cargo profiling in protecting the nation’s ports and borders from criminal exploitation.

MARCON described the seizures as a significant contribution to national security, particularly following the Customs subsequent examination of the arms consignment, which uncovered 399 fully assembled Jojef firearms alongside various rifle components.

In a statement signed by its Secretary, Olamide Osho, on Monday, MARCON urged heightened surveillance and vigilance across Nigeria’s ports and borders to prevent criminal networks from exploiting legitimate maritime trade channels to traffic prohibited goods.

The NCS on August 6, 2026, announced the interception of a 20ft container aboard MV VELIKA, which arrived at the Tin Can Island Port on July 8. The container had been flagged by the Service’s intelligence-driven risk management system for enhanced monitoring.

A detailed examination initially uncovered concealed crates containing knocked-down components preliminarily identified as Jojef pump-action rifles.
However, following the completion of the coupling and detailed examination of the shipment on 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/handguards, four pistol grips and five barrels.

Also, two suspects have been arrested in connection with the arms consignment, while another principal suspect remains at large and is being actively tracked, according to the NCS.
In a separate operation at the command, Customs officers intercepted two 40-foot containers conveying cannabis-infused products concealed alongside 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, with a combined street value of N373.8 million.
MARCON commended the officers of the Tin Can Island Port Command and the Customs Enforcement Unit for their vigilance and professionalism in uncovering the consignments.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Dr Bashir 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 its enforcement efforts to prevent such activities, while also warning against internal compromise within the Customs system.

He further disclosed that the seized arms 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 ongoing inter-agency efforts to take illicit weapons out of circulation.

MARCON further said sustained collaboration among Customs, other security agencies and stakeholders in the maritime sector would remain critical to disrupting trafficking networks while ensuring that Nigeria’s ports continue to facilitate legitimate trade.