Customs seizes N270m arms cache from Turkey at Lagos Airport

By Adeyanju Esther

The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has uncovered a significant cache of arms and ammunition valued at N270 million at Lagos Murtala Muhammed Airport.

This was made public by Customs Comptroller General Bashir Adeniyi through a statement delivered by spokesperson Abdullahi Maiwada in Lagos on Wednesday.

The intercepted consignment, originating from Turkey, was seized at the airport’s cargo section, with authorities detaining one suspect in connection with the incident. Alongside these weapons, the airport command also intercepted various military hardware and equipment.

Adeniyi highlighted recent enforcement actions by Customs, including the recent confiscation of 11 rifles and six pistols, as well as a major seizure in Port Harcourt involving 844 rifles and 112,500 rounds of ammunition.

These operations are part of heightened security measures implemented since June 19, involving thorough inspections of all outbound consignments.

During these inspections, officials discovered suspicious items linked to firearms within a shipment identified by airway bill number 235-58737755 from Turkey.

The entire consignment underwent rigorous scrutiny, revealing a pattern suggesting illicit arms procurement and export by Nigerian nationals based in Turkey.

Adeniyi further disclosed additional seizures of military and paramilitary equipment by the command, valued at N1.29 billion.

The cumulative Duty Paid Value of all confiscated items amounts to N1.56 billion, underscoring the scope and seriousness of Customs’ efforts to combat illegal arms trafficking into Nigeria.