Lagos— The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) transferred 1,599 seized arms and 2,298 live cartridges to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) in Lagos. The handover is part of ongoing efforts to stop arms trafficking.
Adewale Adeniyi, Comptroller General of Customs, said the NCS has strengthened its border protection work. This includes anti-smuggling operations and intelligence-based actions.
Adeniyi stated that some importers of the seized arms have been convicted. Other cases are still in court. Eleven suspects linked to the arms trafficking were also handed over for further investigation and potential prosecution.
National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu praised the cooperation between customs and other agencies. He reaffirmed the government’s dedication to stopping the flow of illegal weapons.
In May 2018, the NCS intercepted 440 pump-action rifles. The rifles were hidden in 516 bags of Plaster of Paris (POP) cement at the Tin Can Island Port. This past event is not the service’s first time seizing illegal weapons.
The NCS continues its work against arms trafficking. This shows its commitment to national security and stopping the spread of illegal seized arms.
