The determination of the Comptroller-General of Customs, CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR to rid Nigeria of illegal weapons has recorded another major breakthrough, as the Tincan Island Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service intercepted a large consignment of small arms and light weapons concealed in containers.
The seizure is being described as one of the biggest anti-arms smuggling wins at the nation’s seaports this year, and a direct result of the CGC’s zero-tolerance policy on arms proliferation.
THE SEIZURE: INTELLIGENCE MEETS ACTION
Acting on credible intelligence and using advanced scanning technology, officers of Tincan Island Port Command flagged suspicious containers for 100% examination.
Upon opening, they discovered:
– Assorted rifles and pistols
– Thousands of rounds of live ammunition
– Magazines and firearm accessories
The arms were cleverly concealed among other goods, a method smugglers now use to beat detection. But the Command’s vigilance and the CGC’s directive on “no sacred cows” ensured the container did not slip through.
CGC ADENIYI: “WE WILL CHOKE THE SUPPLY LINE”
During a press briefing and public display at the Command, CGC Adeniyi commended the Controller, officers, and sister agencies for the interception.
_“The proliferation of small arms and light weapons is fueling banditry, kidnapping, and terrorism across Nigeria. Under my watch, NCS will choke the supply line. Our ports will not be used to import death,”_ he declared.
The CGC emphasized that the seizure aligns with his 3 Cardinal Points:
1. Anti-Smuggling – to secure lives and property;
2. Revenue Generation – by blocking illicit trade ;
3. Trade Facilitation – ensuring legitimate cargo moves faster.
He directed that investigations be deepened to trace, arrest, and prosecute all persons and syndicates involved, both in Nigeria and overseas.
WHY TINCAN MATTERS IN THIS FIGHT
Tincan Island Port, led by Comptroller Joe Anani is one of Nigeria’s busiest trade gateways. That makes it a prime target for arms smugglers.
Under the current leadership, the Command has:
1. Increased use of scanners and risk profiling to target high-risk containers.
2. Strengthened inter-agency collaboration with DSS, Police, NDLEA, and NIA.
3. *Enhanced officer training* on arms detection and concealment methods.
This latest seizure proves the strategy is working.
THE BIGGER IMPACT
Experts say every gun stopped at the port is one less gun on our streets and in our forests.
– It protects communities in the North-West, North-Central, and South-East where illegal arms are fueling violence.
– It saves government money spent on responding to insecurity.
– It protects legitimate importers by cleaning up the system.
With this huge result at *Tincan Island Port Command*, *CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi* has shown that the Nigeria Customs Service is no longer just about duties and revenue.
It is now a frontline agency in Nigeria’s national security architecture.
To arms smugglers, the message from Tincan is clear: Your container will be scanned. Your guns will be seized. You will be prosecuted.
GATMASH NEWS
…News That Drives Impact
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