Operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service, Ogun State
Area Command 1, have intercepted a luxury passenger bus transporting suspected
military camouflage, illicit drugs, and other contraband goods.
The acting Area Controller of the command, Oladapo
Afeni, informed journalists that the unregistered bus was apprehended around
1:30 am on Sunday along the Sagamu-Ore-Benin Expressway. The vehicle, which
belongs to a commercial transport company, was reportedly heading to the
eastern part of the country after bypassing several security checkpoints from
Lagos.
Following an intelligence-driven operation, customs
officers arrested two suspects connected to the smuggling plot. A comprehensive
physical inspection of the bus uncovered 197 camouflage trousers and shorts
hidden in unmarked cartons, five sets of two-piece camouflage uniforms, and 32
assorted camouflage tops and innerwear.
In addition to the military apparel, officers
recovered significant quantities of illicit drugs, including 154 parcels of
synthetic Cannabis Indica, widely known as Canadian Loud, and seven parcels of
Colorado. Other uncustomed goods found in the vehicle are still undergoing
system checks and investigation.
Afeni noted that preliminary findings suggest the
military gear was intended for unauthorized individuals, likely for
impersonation or to aid criminal activities. He warned that criminals
frequently use such uniforms to disguise themselves as security personnel,
making it easier to commit crimes or move illegal goods.
The successful seizure, Afeni explained, was the
result of robust intelligence gathering which revealed that smugglers are
increasingly using commercial transport vehicles as a front to move contraband
across federal highways.
The arrested suspects and the seized narcotics have
since been transferred to the Idiroko Special Command of the National Drug Law
Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and prosecution.
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