Customs seizes 1,100 illegal firearms at Lagos port

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has seized 1,100 firearms smuggled into the country at Tin-Can Island port, Lagos.

Joseph Attah, customs spokesman, confirmed this to TheCable on Monday.

Attah said the weapons – pump action rifles – were imported from Turkey.

“We have seized 1,100 weapons at Lagos port. They came from Turkey,” he said.

“Investigation has commenced. A customs officer, who is a suspect has been arrested. A clerk there (at the Tin-Can Island command) has been arrested as well.”

On May 23, the customs announced the seizure of a cache of arms  – 440 rifles – imported from Turkey in Lagos.

In January, the service also disclosed that it seized 661 firearms on Apapa road, which were in truck headed for an unknown destination.

No further information has been given on the previous busts, but the customs spokesman told TheCable that the service concluded its investigation and handed its findings over to the Department of State Services (DSS).

TheCable could not reach the DSS for comments because the agency does not have a dedicated mobile line for communication.