Nigeria Customs Seizes 204 Pump-Action Rifles Hidden Among Household Goods at TinCan Port

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted 204 pump-action rifles concealed inside a 20-foot container declared as carrying used household goods at the TinCan Island Port in Lagos.

The shipment arrived from Turkey aboard the MV Algeciras Express on August 16, 2026. According to Customs, credible intelligence led officers to flag the container for a 100 per cent physical examination two days later.

During the inspection, Customs officials discovered dismantled firearm components concealed among items declared as furniture, refrigerators, solar panels and detergents.

The components were subsequently examined and assembled by a joint team from the NCS Armament Unit and the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW). The exercise resulted in the identification of 204 MAS 49 Alter Magnum pump-action rifles, alongside additional firearm components.

Customs also reported recovering dozens of additional components, including trigger pins, locking lugs, charging handles, springs, trigger groups, pistol grips, barrels and other firearm parts.

Authorities said they also discovered discrepancies in the shipment’s documentation, particularly concerning the identity of the consignee. The circumstances surrounding the shipment and the individuals or network connected to it are now under investigation.

Customs said the seized firearms and components have been secured and handed over to the NCCSALW for appropriate statutory action.

The latest interception comes only weeks after Customs announced another major seizure at the same port involving dismantled firearm components that were later assembled into 399 pump-action rifles.

The repeated interceptions have increased attention on efforts to prevent Nigerian ports from being used as entry points for illicit firearms. Customs says intelligence gathering, cargo profiling, technology and cooperation with other security agencies are being used to disrupt arms trafficking networks.

The investigation into the latest shipment is ongoing, with authorities expected to focus not only on the seized weapons but also on identifying those behind their attempted importation.