The Nigeria Customs Service on Tuesday intercepted a container loaded with 440 arms and ammunition of various sizes and designs at the Tin Can Island port, Lagos.

The Zonal Commander, Tin Can Island Command, Mr Monday Abue, said the container with registration number PONU 210024/1 was shipped from Turkey and routed through the Lagos port.

Speaking after the seizure on Tuesday, Mr. Abue said the consignment was declared as Plaster of Paris by the importer, adding that it was intercepted by the Customs based on intelligence report and that investigations were on-going to uncover the shipper.

According to Mr. Abue, the intercepted 440 pieces of pump action rifles were manufactured in the United States of America and Italy.

“They are pump action rifles of various designs and also the single barrel device that you are familiar with.

“We have arrested one defendant but due to security reasons, we don’t want to make it public for now because such information could hamper investigations which are still ongoing,” he added.

Also, in a statement on Tuesday, Uche Ejesieme, Customs Spokesperson at the Tin Can Island Command, said the impounded rifles included 100 pieces of black tornado single barrel rifles, 75 pieces of silver magnum single barrel rifles, 50 pieces of altar pump action rifles, 215 pieces of black single barrel rifles among other accessories.

Tuesday’s discovery came barely four months after the Customs intercepted 661 pieces of pump-action rifles from China, concealed with steel doors and other merchandise goods, which came in through Lagos port.