NCS leads efforts to combat smuggling, stop illicit arms to make Nigeria safe

In a bold move to reinforce the Nigeria Customs Service’s unwavering commitment to combating smuggling, the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi two weeks ago convened a high-level meeting with Customs Area Controllers overseeing border areas.
The impactful engagement focused on innovative approaches, operational challenges and actionable strategies to reinvigorate the fight against smuggling.
The CGC emphasized collaboration, intelligence-driven enforcement, and community engagement as key pillars to secure Nigeria’s borders and protect the nation’s economy. The forum testifies to the NCS’s relentless pursuit of its mandate and its resolve to outsmart smugglers at every turn.
How Customs is Getting Ahead of Smugglers
One government agency in the front row working had to stop the proliferation of illicit arms and ammunition is the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, which has recently sharpened its eagle eye to keep this country safe from criminals bent on importing weapons of destruction without permit.
The Comptroller General of Customs, CGS, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi has since assumption of office sustained the tempo on detection and seizure of illicit arms and ammunition at all entry points to the country in a determined resolve to curb smuggling generally.
Indeed, from 2018 to date, the NCS intercepted 23 significant shipments, comprising 10,498 pieces of various arms and 114,929 pieces of ammunition, with an estimated duty paid value of N9.58bn. It is instructive that 60 per cent of the seizures were made in 2023, representing 34.67 per cent of the total duty paid value, 20.58 per cent of the arms seized, and 99.62 per cent of the ammunition intercepted over this period.
Available records indicate that in December 2021, 64,000 pump action gun cartridges were intercepted at an area called Success Line, Marine Modern Market, Onitsha, Anambra State, while another container loaded with guns was also seized on December 17, 2021, at the Tin Can Island, Lagos.
In Bukoro axis of Baruten Local Government Area, Kwara State, 3,620 rounds of ammunition were seized in January 2022, while one pump action rifle, two locally made guns and 35 live cartridges were intercepted along Idiroko, Ogun State. Furthermore, two rifles and 14 live ammunitions were seized in Lagos State in September 2022 and October 12, 2022 respectively.
In July 2023, three new pump action rifles, six different makes of pistols, one millennium G2 pistol, one Sarsilmaz sar – 9x pistol, one new luger security 9 pistol, 1 tarus nab bridge G3C pistol, 1 sccy cpx – 2 pistol, 1 new Taurus (63 pistol) 14 empty magazines and 442 rounds of ammunition were uncovered at Ports and Terminal Multi-Services Limited, Lagos. Also intercepted were six different types of pistols comprising two pieces of Sarsimarz pistols, one Ruger American pistol and three pieces of Taurus G3C-Bainbridge pistols.
On March 15, 2024, 11 guns, including pump action guns, six pistols, including semi-automatic arms and pepper spray guns, military vests, among others were intercepted at Tin Can Island.
Illicit arms and Drugs as fuel for Criminality
The merchants of death combine the importation of illicit arms with the smuggling of drugs. At the Tin-Can Island Area Command of the Service, the CGS announced the seizure of military camouflage and illicit drugs namely colorado, heroine and cocaine in the same consignment with automatic single barrel rifles and pump action guns, among other weapons.

In June, this year, the Service made a significant seizure of arms and ammunition at the Port Harcourt Area II Command in Onne. Acting on credible intelligence Customs officers, while inspecting a suspicious 40-foot container from Turkey, discovered 844 rifles and 112,500 rounds of live ammunition. These items were concealed among doors, furniture, plumbing fittings, and leather bags, with a total duty value of four billion Naira.
“This interception underscores our commitment to national security and public safety. We remain vigilant and committed to our duty. Three suspects have been detained in connection with the seizure, with a thorough investigation underway to ensure all involved face legal consequences.
“These seizures result from our robust Risk Management System and collaboration with intelligence communities both locally and internationally. The container bearing the arms and ammunition will be handed over to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons for further investigation and prosecution. Licenses and permits of warehouses and terminals involved have been suspended, and officers found complicit will face severe sanctions.
“This seizure serves as a strong warning to others contemplating similar misadventures. We will run you out of business; the NCS continues to demonstrate its dedication to protecting Nigeria’s borders and ensuring the security of its citizens,” said Adeniyi while inspecting the seized items in Port Harcourt.
Two months ago, an attempt to smuggle large amounts of arms and ammunition into Nigeria was successfully thwarted by the NCS at the Port Terminal Multi-Services Limited, Command in Lagos. Hidden within vehicles imported from overseas, the illegal shipment was valued at N28.5 million. Controller Tenny Mankini Daniyan disclosed at a press briefing that the confiscated items included various firearms, ammunition, and related components.
Inside the containers, eagle-eyed officials discovered live rounds of 9mm Luger ammunition, blank ammunition of various calibers, 7.62mm AK-47 ammunition, 76mm live cartridges, and empty shells. Additionally, there were 12-gauge shotgun cartridges, along with a Sig Sauer 1911 pistol and a Glock 22 pistol.
“This operation underscores our commitment to safeguarding national security by intercepting illicit imports,” Daniyan stated.
Security experts have giving kudos to the NCS while they note that arms smuggling through the ports and land borders are largely responsible for the security challenges across the country, particularly in the North-West and North-East geo-political zones.
But beyond that, the stakeholders have called on the Customs Service and other security agencies to go a step further, unravel the identities of those behind the illicit importation of the arms and bring them to justice in a determined effort to make the country safe for all.