The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has uncovered 399 fully assembled Jojef firearms following the detailed examination of a seized shipment at the Tin Can Island Port Command in Lagos.
The development was disclosed by the NCS National Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada, in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja.
According to the Customs spokesperson, the discovery was confirmed after officers completed the examination of a container that had initially been found to contain crates of concealed firearm components.
The shipment had earlier been intercepted after the components were identified as suspected Jojef pump-action rifles.
Customs said further examination and coupling of the recovered components led to the confirmation of 399 fully assembled firearms, alongside additional rifle components.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, had earlier disclosed the interception, warning that criminal networks could attempt to exploit Nigeria’s ports and borders to move prohibited items into the country.
The Customs Service said the seizure underscored its continued efforts to strengthen border surveillance and prevent illicit arms trafficking.
Adeniyi also stressed the importance of intelligence-led enforcement and collaboration with other security agencies in tackling the movement of prohibited items and protecting national security.
The latest seizure comes as Nigerian security agencies continue to intensify efforts to curb the trafficking of illicit arms and other prohibited goods through the country’s ports and borders.
