Customs intercepts bus loaded with military camouflage, cannabis worth ₦259.68 million in Ogun

— Arrests two suspects, hands over drugs to NDLEA and warns of security threat

Nigeria Customs Service officers have intercepted a luxury passenger bus carrying military camouflage uniforms and illicit drugs worth about ₦259.68 million along the Sagamu-Ore-Benin Expressway in Ogun State.

The interception, carried out as part of a coordinated intelligence operation by the service’s Ogun I area command, also led to the arrest of two suspects allegedly linked to the shipment.

The bus, which reportedly had no license plate and belonged to a transport company, was intercepted in the early hours of Sunday around 1.30am while heading towards the country’s eastern corridor.

Addressing journalists in Idiroko on Monday, the Acting Controller of the Customs Area, Comptroller Oladapo Afeni, said the operation was triggered by credible intelligence that tracked the movement of the suspected vehicle from Lagos through several security checkpoints before it was finally intercepted.

Afeni explained that a thorough search of the bus revealed a large cache of prohibited items, including 197 pieces of military camouflage trousers and shorts hidden in unmarked cartons, along with five complete sets of camouflage uniforms, 32 camouflage inner garments, 32 camouflage tops and other related materials.

He further revealed that officers also discovered 154 parcels of synthetic Cannabis Indica, popularly known as “Loud”, and seven parcels of “Colorado”, another potent strain of cannabis, all carefully hidden inside the vehicle.

According to him, preliminary investigations suggested that the military uniforms were intended for distribution to unauthorized persons, raising concerns about possible impersonation of security personnel and other criminal activities.

“The combination of illicit drugs and military uniforms in one shipment indicates a coordinated attempt to undermine national security,” Afeni said.

He warned that the illegal movement of military insignia poses a serious threat, stressing that criminals often exploit such materials to impersonate security agents and perpetrate crimes across the country.

The customs chief added that the success of the operation was made possible by continuous surveillance and real-time intelligence sharing, which allowed officers to monitor the movement of the suspected bus through major transport corridors.

Afeni confirmed that the seized cannabis and related exhibits have been formally handed over to the Idiroko Special Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for further investigation and prosecution.

Receiving the items, the Commander of the NDLEA, Idiroko Special Command, Williams Ekundayo, represented by Deputy Commander Ganiyu Adeyooye, commended the Customs Service for what he described as “timely and professional interception”.

He assured that a thorough investigation will be conducted and that all suspects linked to the illicit shipment will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

The Customs Service has reiterated its commitment to intensifying anti-smuggling operations across its area of ​​responsibility, urging members of the public to continue to provide credible intelligence to security agencies in the fight against cross-border crime.

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