Customs seize 140 Pump-Action Rifles, cannabis snacks worth ₦373.8 Million at tincan port
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced the interception of 140 pump-action rifles and cannabis-infused food products with an estimated street value of ₦373.8 million during separate operations at the TinCan Island Port in Lagos.
Speaking during a press briefing on Thursday, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, disclosed that officers uncovered a container carrying concealed knock-down components of pump-action rifles on July 8.
According to Adeniyi, customs officers have so far assembled 140 rifles from the recovered parts, while work is ongoing to piece together additional components found in the shipment.
He revealed that a principal suspect was arrested on July 31 at a bonded terminal while attempting to clear the container. Investigations, he said, linked the suspect to the consignment through financial and telecommunications records.
The customs chief added that two suspects are currently in custody and assisting investigators, while another key suspect remains on the run and is being tracked by security agencies.
In a separate operation, customs officers intercepted two 40-foot containers loaded with cannabis-infused products that had been concealed among imported goods, including vehicles, generators, batteries and fabrics.
Among the seized items were 8,720 Delta-8 cannabis pre-roll cookies weighing 17.44 kilogrammes and valued at ₦308.7 million. Officers also recovered 740 packs of cannabis-infused gummies weighing 515.2 kilogrammes with an estimated value of ₦40.7 million, as well as 873 cartons containing 442 packs of cannabis-infused cookies weighing 309.4 kilogrammes and worth ₦24.3 million.
The combined estimated street value of the cannabis-infused products was put at ₦373.8 million.
Adeniyi warned that the products were deliberately packaged to resemble ordinary snacks and featured flavours such as citrus, vanilla, pine and peach pie, making them particularly attractive to children, students and other young people. He noted that the deceptive packaging increased the likelihood of unsuspecting consumers unknowingly ingesting the drug-laced products.
The Comptroller-General commended Joseph Anani, Area Controller of the TinCan Island Port Command, along with officers of the enforcement unit, for their vigilance during the operations. He reaffirmed the service’s commitment to protecting Nigeria’s borders and ensuring that those involved in the trafficking of illegal arms and dangerous drugs are brought to justice.
He also acknowledged the continued collaboration between the Nigeria Customs Service and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), urging members of the public to provide credible intelligence that could aid efforts to combat smuggling.
Receiving the seized narcotics, Augustine Adewunmi, Commander of Narcotics at the NDLEA TinCan Strategic Command, described cannabis-infused cookies, gummies and smoothies as a growing threat to public safety.
Adewunmi said the products, which were imported from the United States, were marketed as vegan snacks in flavours such as citrus, vanilla and peach to mislead unsuspecting consumers. He warned that the products appeared to have been designed to appeal to children, students and clubgoers, thereby increasing the risk of accidental drug consumption.
He confirmed that two suspects remain in custody as investigations into the seizure continue.
Customs Seize 140 Pump-Action Rifles, Cannabis-Infused Snacks Worth ₦373.8 Million at TinCan Port
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced the interception of 140 pump-action rifles and cannabis-infused food products with an estimated street value of ₦373.8 million during separate operations at the TinCan Island Port in Lagos.
Speaking during a press briefing on Thursday, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, disclosed that officers uncovered a container carrying concealed knock-down components of pump-action rifles on July 8.
According to Adeniyi, customs officers have so far assembled 140 rifles from the recovered parts, while work is ongoing to piece together additional components found in the shipment.
He revealed that a principal suspect was arrested on July 31 at a bonded terminal while attempting to clear the container. Investigations, he said, linked the suspect to the consignment through financial and telecommunications records.
The customs chief added that two suspects are currently in custody and assisting investigators, while another key suspect remains on the run and is being tracked by security agencies.
In a separate operation, customs officers intercepted two 40-foot containers loaded with cannabis-infused products that had been concealed among imported goods, including vehicles, generators, batteries and fabrics.
Among the seized items were 8,720 Delta-8 cannabis pre-roll cookies weighing 17.44 kilogrammes and valued at ₦308.7 million. Officers also recovered 740 packs of cannabis-infused gummies weighing 515.2 kilogrammes with an estimated value of ₦40.7 million, as well as 873 cartons containing 442 packs of cannabis-infused cookies weighing 309.4 kilogrammes and worth ₦24.3 million.
The combined estimated street value of the cannabis-infused products was put at ₦373.8 million.
Adeniyi warned that the products were deliberately packaged to resemble ordinary snacks and featured flavours such as citrus, vanilla, pine and peach pie, making them particularly attractive to children, students and other young people. He noted that the deceptive packaging increased the likelihood of unsuspecting consumers unknowingly ingesting the drug-laced products.
The Comptroller-General commended Joseph Anani, Area Controller of the TinCan Island Port Command, along with officers of the enforcement unit, for their vigilance during the operations. He reaffirmed the service’s commitment to protecting Nigeria’s borders and ensuring that those involved in the trafficking of illegal arms and dangerous drugs are brought to justice.
He also acknowledged the continued collaboration between the Nigeria Customs Service and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), urging members of the public to provide credible intelligence that could aid efforts to combat smuggling.
Receiving the seized narcotics, Augustine Adewunmi, Commander of Narcotics at the NDLEA TinCan Strategic Command, described cannabis-infused cookies, gummies and smoothies as a growing threat to public safety.
Adewunmi said the products, which were imported from the United States, were marketed as vegan snacks in flavours such as citrus, vanilla and peach to mislead unsuspecting consumers. He warned that the products appeared to have been designed to appeal to children, students and clubgoers, thereby increasing the risk of accidental drug consumption.
He confirmed that two suspects remain in custody as investigations into the seizure continue.
