A total of 661 pieces of pump action rifles concealed in 49 boxes have been intercepted by the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, in Lagos, Hameed Alli, Comptroller General of customs, has said.

Addressing the media on Monday, Alli said that the breakthrough was made by operatives of the federal operations unit, FOU, Zone A, Ikeja, along Mile 2 Apapa Road, in Lagos.

He narrated that the custom officials intercepted a truck with registration number BUG 265 XG, conveying a 40 feet container with number: PONU/825914/3, which contained steel and other merchandise goods apparently to conceal the guns.

Alli noted that the importation of such arms into the country “totally against the law” as government had prohibited the license of pump action rifles.

He said: “Such deadly contravention of the law is even more unacceptable considering the fragile security situation in some parts of the country.

“Investigation has already commenced and I have directed that the dragnet should be wide enough to fish out all persons involved in the importation and clearing of the consignment.

“Already three suspects have been arrested in connection with this illegal importation and the officers involved in the clearing of this container are with the comptroller under detention,” he said.

He commended the officers involved in the seizure, adding that the development was a testimony to the reformed nature of the customs service where most officers and men on a daily basis work hard to ensure that illegalities are not allowed unchecked.

Alli also called on the general public to always avail the service with valuable information that would assist the service perform its statutory responsibilities in the interest of Nigeria.