Customs FOU intercepts firearms, drones worth N377.1 million

The Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, Ikeja, Nigeria Customs Service, says its officers seized firearms, ammunition, and two industrial drones with a Duty Paid Value of N377,110,800 in Ogun and Ondo States.

The Controller of the Unit, Comptroller Mohammed Shuaibu, disclosed the seizures while addressing the press in Lagos on Tuesday, September 2, 2025.

Shuaibu said the operations were carried out on the basis of credible intelligence and executed with precision intercepting a Nissan Almera vehicle along Ilara bush paths near the Ogun border on August 7, 2025, at about 2:13am.

The Controller said; “On August 7, 2025, at about 2:13a.m, a patrol team intercepted a Nissan Almera vehicle along Ilara bush paths near the Ogun border. The occupants abandoned the car and fled into the forest, leaving behind a deadly cargo concealed under bales of second-hand clothing and cartons of spaghetti.

“A thorough search revealed 15 assorted rifles, including 14 JOJEF Magnum semi-automatic firearms of Italian origin and one Mossberg pump-action shotgun made in the United States.

“Also recovered were 4,841 rounds of live ammunition, two bales and one sack of second-hand clothing, and two cartons of spaghetti.

“On August 9 at 9:10 a.m., another patrol team along the Akure-Ore axis in Ondo State intercepted a Volkswagen Sprinter bus carrying two industrial drones packed inside a wooden box. One suspect was arrested after failing to present proper documentation for the drones.”

He aid the arrests demonstrated the Service’s determination under Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, to disrupt the operations of non-state actors and secure Nigeria’s borders.

He said “The importation of arms, ammunition, or drones requires valid permits and an End User Certificate from the Office of the National Security Adviser. Any deviation is a direct assault on national security and will be met with swift and decisive action.”

Shuaib noted the smugglers evaded arrest but assured that efforts were being intensified to apprehend the perpetrators of the crime. He maintained that the smugglers knew they were carrying smuggled items so they prepared to flee as this operation happened at about 2am.

The Controller commended the professionalism and bravery of his officers and stressed that such operations required serious intelligence gathering and tactical execution, promising to prioritise community engagement and sensitisation to ensure border communities don’t support such illegal activities.

He informed that the seized arms and ammunition had been handed over to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) for further investigation and prosecution.

Shuaibu urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities in their communities, noting that public cooperation is crucial in the fight against criminality.