The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted 140 pump-action rifles and cannabis-infused food products with a combined street value of N373.8 million at the TinCan Island Port in Lagos, as part of its recent anti-smuggling operations.
Speaking at a press briefing, Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, said officers discovered concealed components of pump-action rifles in a container intercepted on July 8.
According to him, 140 rifles have so far been assembled from the recovered parts, while the remaining components are still being processed.
Adeniyi disclosed that a principal suspect was arrested on July 31 at a bonded terminal while allegedly attempting to facilitate the release of the container.
He said financial and telecommunications records had linked the suspect to the shipment, while two other suspects remained in custody to assist with the investigation.
The Customs chief also revealed the interception of two 40-foot containers containing cannabis-infused products concealed among items such as vehicles, generators, batteries and fabrics.
The seized items included 8,720 Delta-8 cannabis pre-roll cookies weighing 17.44 kilogrammes and valued at N308.7 million.
Other recovered products included 740 packs of cannabis-infused gummies weighing 515.2 kilogrammes and valued at N40.7 million, alongside 873 cartons containing 442 packs of cannabis-infused cookies weighing 309.4 kilogrammes and valued at N24.3 million. Customs put the combined street value of the cannabis-infused products at N373.8 million.
Adeniyi expressed concern over the packaging of the products, noting that they were made to resemble ordinary snacks and carried flavours such as citrus, vanilla, pine and peach pie.
He warned that such a presentation could make the products attractive to children, students and young people, potentially exposing unsuspecting consumers to cannabis.
