Operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service, Ogun I Area Command, have intercepted a luxury bus laden with military camouflage uniforms and large quantities of illicit drugs along the Sagamu–Ore–Benin Expressway, in what officials call one of the command’s biggest anti-smuggling and anti-narcotics busts this year.
The operation, based on credible intelligence, saw officers stop an unregistered bus heading east in the early hours of Sunday. After a detailed search, two suspects were arrested on board and the consignment, valued at ₦259.68 million Duty Paid Value, was seized.
Addressing journalists in Idiroko on Monday, the Acting Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Oladapo Afeni, said the seizure followed days of surveillance and credible intelligence. The Command had monitored the bus from Lagos through several security checkpoints before moving in to intercept it at about 1:30 a.m.
A thorough search uncovered a carefully concealed cache of military apparel. Found in the vehicle were 197 pieces of camouflage trousers and shorts packed in cartons, five complete sets of military camouflage uniforms, 32 camouflage tops, 32 camouflage inner wears, and other related military clothing items hidden to avoid detection.
Alongside the uniforms, a substantial quantity of narcotics was discovered. The search yielded 154 parcels of synthetic Cannabis Indica, popularly called “Loud,” and seven parcels of “Colorado,” another high-potency cannabis variant. Both were concealed within the structure of the bus in an attempt to evade security checks.
According to Comptroller Afeni, preliminary investigations showed the military regalia were meant for distribution to unauthorized persons. He noted that putting such materials in the wrong hands poses a direct threat to public safety and military operations.
Afeni warned that the illegal circulation of military uniforms equips criminal elements with the ability to impersonate security personnel, making it easier to carry out robberies, kidnappings, and other violent crimes. He said the spread of these items weakens public trust in the nation’s security institutions.
“The combination of illicit drugs and military uniforms in a single consignment points to a coordinated criminal network with the capacity to destabilize public order and national security,” Afeni stated. He added that the interception likely disrupted a wider illicit scheme.
The Acting Controller credited the success to strong intelligence gathering, effective inter-agency collaboration, and real-time monitoring of suspicious movements along strategic transport routes. He said the outcome showed the value of proactive and coordinated security work.
Afeni confirmed that the seized narcotics and related exhibits have been formally handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA Idiroko Special Command, for further investigation and prosecution. The handover, he said, ensures legal continuity and prevents the substances from re-entering circulation.
Receiving the items on behalf of the NDLEA, Deputy Commander Ganiyu Adeyooye, who represented Commander Williams Ekundayo, commended Customs for the interception. He described the collaboration as a strong example of inter-agency cooperation in tackling transnational crime.
Adeyooye assured that the NDLEA would conduct a comprehensive investigation and work to ensure all individuals linked to the consignment are identified and brought to justice. He reiterated the agency’s commitment to dismantling drug trafficking networks operating across the corridor.
The Nigeria Customs Service reaffirmed its determination to sustain aggressive anti-smuggling and anti-narcotics operations across its commands. It also called on the public to support security agencies by sharing timely and credible information that can help disrupt cross-border crimes and other threats to national security.
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