The Ogun State I Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Idiroko, Southwest Nigeria, intercepted a luxury passenger bus loaded with military camouflage uniforms, cannabis sativa, and other prohibited items allegedly smuggled into the country.
The contraband items were intercepted around 1:30am on Sunday along the Sagamu–Ore–Benin Expressway while being transported to the eastern part of the country.
Speaking during a press briefing on Monday in Idiroko, the acting area controller of the command, Oladapo Afeni, said the luxury bus, which had no registration plate, was intercepted through intelligence-driven surveillance after allegedly evading several security checkpoints from Lagos State to Ogun State.
Afeni said the vehicle, belonging to a transport company, was also loaded with other illicit drugs, including Colorado, and several uncustomed goods.
According to him, preliminary investigations indicated that the military uniforms were meant for unauthorised persons and could have been used for impersonation or other criminal activities.
He said, “A 100 per cent physical examination of the vehicle revealed 197 camouflage trousers and shorts concealed in unmarked cartons, five two-piece camouflage uniforms, and 32 mixed camouflage innerwear and tops.”
Other seized items included 154 parcels of synthetic cannabis indica, popularly known as Canadian Loud, seven parcels of Colorado, and other goods still undergoing investigation and system checks.
Afeni stated that the success of the operation was made possible through rigorous intelligence gathering and surveillance.
He explained that intelligence reports had revealed that commercial transport operators were being used to move contraband goods along federal highways under the guise of legitimate business activities.
“Our network of informants and analysts worked tirelessly to track this specific threat using real-time intelligence,” he said.
The customs boss estimated the street value of the seized drugs and military items at over N259m.
He added that two suspects were arrested in connection with the seizure and would be thoroughly investigated to uncover other members of the smuggling syndicate.
Afeni stressed that the combination of illicit drugs and military uniforms in a single operation pointed to an organised attempt to threaten national security.
“Unauthorised possession of military apparel is often linked to impersonation, where criminals disguise themselves as security personnel to commit atrocities or facilitate the movement of contraband,” he said.
In line with inter-agency collaboration, Afeni handed over the seized cannabis and the suspects to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Idiroko Special Command, for further investigation and prosecution.
Receiving the exhibits, the NDLEA Commander of the Idiroko Special Command, Williams Ekundayo, represented by the agency’s deputy commander, Ganiyu Adeyooye, commended the customs operatives for the interception and assured that the agency would carry out a thorough investigation.
Afeni reiterated the command’s determination to sustain the crackdown on smuggling and cross-border crimes within its area of responsibility.
He also appealed to members of the public to support security agencies by reporting suspicious movements and smuggling activities.
“The Nigeria Customs Service remains resolute in ensuring that such materials do not fall into the hands of non-state actors,” he said.
He warned smugglers and criminal elements that Customs operatives remain strategically positioned and highly motivated to combat all forms of cross-border criminality.
The command recently handed over 10,126 parcels of cannabis indica, popularly known as Ghana Loud, weighing about 4,627 kg and valued at N5bn, to the NDLEA at Idiroko.
Afeni added that within five weeks of intensified anti-smuggling operations, the command had also seized 1,759 bags of foreign parboiled rice; 2,685 kegs of vegetable oil; 14,550 litres of petroleum products, among other prohibited items, with a cumulative duty paid value of N6.777bn.
Source: Punch
