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The Lagos State Police Command has intercepted 47 sacks containing military camouflage uniforms and 80 cartons of substances suspected to be illicit drugs during an intelligence-led operation in the Surulere area of the state.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Tijani Fatai, represented by senior officers of the command, disclosed this on Tuesday while briefing journalists at the command headquarters in Ikeja.
According to the police, operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit arrested three suspects — Chinedu David, 29; Ezeagwu Chukwuma, 38; and Ifeanyi Ogbeanyi, 45 — during the operation conducted on Saturday.
The suspects were apprehended while in possession of an unregistered MAN diesel truck loaded with military camouflage uniforms and cartons of substances believed to be illicit drugs.
CP Fatai described the operation as a significant breakthrough achieved through credible intelligence.
“Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command attached to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, acting on credible intelligence, recorded a major breakthrough with the arrest of three suspects. The operation led to the recovery of an unregistered MAN diesel truck loaded with 47 sacks containing military camouflage uniforms and 80 cartons of drugs suspected to be illicit substances,” he said.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the truck was allegedly transporting the military uniforms to the South-East region of the country.
The police commissioner said investigations were ongoing to determine the source, ownership and intended recipients of the recovered items, as well as to identify other individuals linked to the operation.
“Investigation is ongoing to determine the source, ownership and intended recipients of the recovered items, establish the extent of the suspects’ involvement and identify other persons connected to the criminal act,” he added.
CP Fatai assured residents that the intercepted consignment posed no immediate threat to Lagos State, noting that the items were being transported out of the state at the time of interception.
“It does not pose any form of threat to Lagos State. The items were being moved out of the state. However, considering the prevailing security challenges in the country, where criminals and bandits have been known to disguise themselves in military uniforms, possible criminal intentions cannot be ruled out,” he said.
A police source involved in the investigation revealed that the truck driver and his assistant were initially arrested before two additional suspects linked to the consignment were identified and taken into custody.
“We first arrested the truck driver and his assistant. Subsequently, two other suspects who came to a police station in Surulere to claim ownership of the exhibits were also arrested,” the source disclosed.
The seizure comes amid growing concerns over the proliferation of military-grade uniforms among criminal elements, a trend security agencies say has facilitated impersonation and other criminal activities acro
ss the country.
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