By James Ogunnaike
The Ogun I Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Idiroko, has intercepted a luxury passenger bus, conveying military camouflage uniforms and hard drugs valued at about N259.68 million along the Sagamu-Ore-Benin expressway.
The contraband items, which included parcels of Cannabis Sativa, popularly known as Indian hemp, were intercepted in the early hours of Sunday during a coordinated intelligence operation by Customs operatives.
Addressing journalists on Monday in Idiroko, the Acting Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Oladapo Afeni, said the bus, which had no registration number, was intercepted at about 1:30 a.m. while heading towards the eastern part of the country.
Afeni disclosed that the vehicle, belonging to a transport company, allegedly evaded several security checkpoints from Lagos before it was eventually apprehended within the Ogun corridor through what he described as “precise intelligence patrol.”
According to him, the seizure came at a critical time when the country is grappling with heightened security challenges, warning that the illegal importation and movement of military regalia posed a serious threat to national security.
He said: “Preliminary investigations revealed that the military uniforms were intended for distribution to unauthorized persons, potentially for use in impersonation and other criminal activities.”
The Customs boss explained that a 100 per cent physical examination of the vehicle uncovered 197 military camouflage trousers and shorts concealed inside unmarked cartons.
Other items recovered from the bus included five complete sets of camouflage uniforms, 32 pieces of camouflage inner wears, 32 camouflage tops, 154 parcels of synthetic Cannabis Indica, otherwise known as Canadian Loud, and seven parcels of Colorado, another synthetic strain of cannabis.
Afeni noted that additional heterogeneous items were also discovered in the vehicle and are currently undergoing further investigation and system checks to determine the next line of action.
“The success of this operation was made possible through intensive surveillance and credible intelligence gathering,” he said.
“Our intelligence revealed that commercial transport vehicles were being used to move contraband along federal highways under the guise of legitimate business activities. Our officers and intelligence team worked tirelessly, using real-time information to track and intercept this particular shipment.”
The Acting Controller disclosed that two suspects were arrested in connection with the seizure and would be thoroughly investigated to uncover other members of the smuggling network behind the operation.
He stressed that the combination of illicit drugs and military uniforms in a single operation suggested “a coordinated attempt to compromise national security.”
According to him, unauthorised possession of military apparel is commonly associated with impersonation by criminals who disguise themselves as security personnel to perpetrate crimes or aid illegal activities.
In line with inter-agency collaboration, Afeni formally handed over the illicit drugs to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Idiroko Special Command, for further investigation and prosecution.
He reiterated the resolve of the Nigeria Customs Service to sustain its anti-smuggling operations across its Area of Responsibility, urging members of the public to support security agencies with timely information.
The Nigeria Customs Service remains resolute in ensuring that prohibited materials do not fall into the hands of non-state actors,” Afeni said.
“We are sending a strong warning to smugglers and criminal elements that our operatives remain strategically positioned and fully prepared to detect, intercept and neutralise all forms of cross-border crimes.”
Responding after receiving the seized items, the NDLEA Commander, Idiroko Special Command, Mr. Williams Ekundayo, who was represented by the Deputy Commander, Ganiyu Adeyooye, commended the Customs operatives for the successful interception.
He assured that the agency would carry out a thorough investigation and ensure that the suspects face the full weight of the law.
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