In what is described as a decisive blow against a smuggling cartel in the country, operatives of the Ogun 1 Area Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Idiroko, have intercepted a passenger’s luxury bus laden with military camouflage, as well as several parcels of Cannabis Sativa popularly known as Indian hemp being illegally imported into the country.
The contrabands, alongside other prohibited items, were intercepted on the penultimate Sunday around 1: 30a.m. along the ever-busy Sagamu-Ore-Benin expressway while en route to the Eastern part of the country.
Customs Acting Area Controller (CAC) of the command, Comptroller Oladapo Afeni, disclosed this while addressing journalists on Monday at Idiroko, while handing over the seized items to officials of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Idiroko Special Command.
Afeni explained that, against the backdrop of heightened insecurity across the country, the targeted luxurious passenger bus without a registration number plate was intercepted “through precise intelligence patrol” along the expressway, having beaten all security checks from Lagos State to the Ogun corridor.
Declaring that the luxurious passengers, belonging to a transport company, were laden with other illicit drugs that included Colorado and other uncustomed goods, Afeni stated that preliminary investigations clearly suggested that the military uniforms were intended “for distribution to unauthorised individuals, potentially for use in impersonation or criminal activities”.
He said a 100 per cent physical examination of the vehicle revealed that it was conveying 197 Camouflage trousers and shorts concealed within unmarked cartons, with another 5 Camouflage 2-piece up & down and a 32 mixed camouflage inner wears.
Others, according to the CAC Ogun 1 Command, included: a 32 Camouflage Top; 154 synthesised strains of Cannabis Indica (Canadian loud), coconut sizes; 7 parcels of synthesised strain of cannabis Indica (Colorado), as well as other heterogeneous items that are pending investigation and system checks, “which will inform further actions to be taken”.
“The success of this mission was rooted in rigorous field surveillance. Our intelligence indicated that commercial transporters were being used to convey contraband along Federal highways under the guise of legitimate trade. Our network of informants and analysts worked tirelessly to track this specific threat by utilising real-time intelligence”.
Putting the estimated Street Value of the Canadian Loud, Colorado, and the camouflage at a total sum of N259. 680 Million, Afeni further disclosed that two suspects were also arrested in connection with the contrabands, stressing that the suspects would be thoroughly grilled to be able to ascertain and bring to justice other members of the drug cartel behind such heinous crime.
He emphasised that the combination of the intercepted illicit drugs and the military regalia “in a single catch” suggested a coordinated attempt to undermine national security, but for which their seizure remained a testament to the vigilance of Customs personnel.
“Unauthorised possession of such apparel is often linked to impersonation, where criminals disguise themselves as security personnel to commit atrocities or facilitate the movement of contraband”.
In line with the principles and spirit of inter-agency cooperation, Afeni, however, handed over the suspects and the seized contraband to the NDLEA Commander for the Idiroko Special Command, Williams Ekundayo, for further necessary action.
