Three people have been arrested for trying to smuggle three pump-action rifles into the country, the Oyo/Osun Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said on Thursday.

Acting Controller Deputy Comptroller Wale Adewole announced the arrests during a press briefing at the Command's headquarters in Ibadan. He said the suspects are being investigated alongside the Customs Intelligence Unit, Customs Police Unit, and Legal Unit to find the people behind the attempted smuggling.

"In connection with the seizure of the three pump-action rifles, three suspects were arrested and are currently undergoing investigation," Adewole said.

A fourth suspect was also arrested based on intelligence shared with the Amotekun Corps. The suspect is accused of impersonating a Customs officer and running a fake recruitment scheme. He allegedly promised people they could get jobs in the Nigeria Customs Service if they paid him money.

"The suspect is currently in custody. No individual can secure employment into the Nigeria Customs Service through unofficial means," Adewole warned. He advised the public to ignore anyone promising jobs in the Service, stressing that recruitment is transparent, merit-based, and done only through official channels.

"In connection with the seizure of the three pump-action rifles, three suspects were arrested and are currently undergoing investigation."

Between March and May 2026, the Command intercepted contraband with a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N3.22 billion. DPV is the estimated market value of seized goods if they had been legally imported and duties paid.

The seizures include foreign parboiled rice, used clothing, shoes, tyres, pharmaceuticals, cannabis sativa, tramadol, Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), and several vehicles used in smuggling operations. Other items intercepted were used compressors, sugar, pasta products, illicit drugs, and multiple vehicles including buses, saloon cars, and trucks.

"The cumulative Duty Paid Value of these seizures stands at N3,221,843,672," Adewole said. He added that the interceptions helped safeguard the economy and disrupt criminal networks.

Within the same period, the Command generated N28.5 billion in revenue. That's an 8 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2025.

Adewole commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, for his leadership, noting that improved intelligence-driven operations have strengthened enforcement across commands. He also praised officers of the Command for their professionalism and assured that efforts to curb smuggling and protect national security would be sustained.

  • 3 suspects arrested for smuggling 3 pump-action rifles
  • 1 suspect arrested for impersonation and fake recruitment fraud
  • N3.22 billion worth of contraband seized between March and May 2026
  • N28.5 billion revenue generated in same period, up 8% from 2025
  • Seized items include rice, used clothing, shoes, tyres, pharmaceuticals, cannabis, tramadol, PMS, vehicles, compressors, sugar, pasta, and illicit drugs