The Federal Operations Unit, Zone A (FOU A), Ikeja of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has seized 15 rifles, 4,800 rounds of ammunition, and two industrial drones in a series of successful operations.
Comptroller of the Unit, Mohammed Shuaibu, confirmed the seizures, revealing that on August 7, 2025, at around 2:13 a.m., a patrol team intercepted a Nissan Almera along the Ilara bush paths near the Ogun border. The suspects abandoned the vehicle and fled into the forest, leaving behind a deadly cargo hidden under second-hand clothing and cartons of spaghetti.
Upon inspection, officers uncovered 15 firearms—14 JOJEF Magnum semi-automatic rifles of Italian origin and one U.S.-made Mossberg pump-action shotgun. They also recovered 4,841 rounds of ammunition, bales of used clothing, and cartons of spaghetti.
In another operation two days later, on August 9 at 9:10 a.m., a patrol along the Akure-Ore road in Ondo State intercepted a Volkswagen Sprinter bus carrying two industrial drones concealed in a wooden box. One suspect was arrested for failing to present the required documentation.
The duty paid value (DPV) of the combined seizures, including arms, drones, and other items, was estimated at ₦377,110,800.
According to Shuaibu, the arrests reflect the Service’s commitment under Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, to dismantle smuggling networks and safeguard Nigeria’s borders.
“The importation of arms, ammunition, or drones requires valid permits and an End User Certificate from the Office of the National Security Adviser. Any violation threatens national security and will be met with decisive action,” Shuaibu stated.
While noting that some suspects escaped during the raid, he confirmed that efforts are ongoing to track and arrest them. He added that smugglers deliberately staged their operation at night to evade capture but failed due to Customs’ intelligence-driven patrols.
Shuaibu commended his officers’ bravery and professionalism, stressing that such missions require meticulous intelligence and tactical precision.
The confiscated arms and ammunition have since been handed over to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) for further investigation and prosecution.
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