Customs Foils ₦270 Million Worth Of Weapons Smuggling at Lagos Airport

A substantial cache of arms and ammunition, valued at ₦270 million, was recently intercepted by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMA) in Lagos. The intercepted consignment, originating from Turkiye, was discovered in the cargo section of the airport, leading to the apprehension of one suspect.

In addition to the weapons and ammunition, military equipment and gear were also confiscated by the Airport Command of the NCS. This significant seizure follows closely on the heels of a previous incident where a container loaded with arms and ammunition smuggled from Turkiye was seized at Onne Port, Rivers State.

The Comptroller General of the NCS, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, confirmed the recent interception in a statement issued on Wednesday, highlighting the diligence of the MMA 2 command in responding to intelligence reports. A parcel originating from Turkiye was singled out for inspection, leading to the confiscation of 55 pieces of Tomahawk semi-automatic short guns and the arrest of one suspect.

Earlier at Onne Port, the NCS intercepted a 40-feet container containing pump action rifles and ammunition valued at N4.17 billion from Turkiye. The suspicious nature of the shipment prompted a thorough examination, revealing 844 rifles and 112,500 pieces of live ammunition concealed within the container.