The Nigeria Customs Service, Ogun I Area Command, has uncovered what officials described as a dangerous cross border criminal operation involving military uniforms and illicit drugs along the Idiroko corridor in Ogun State.
The command said the operation led to the interception of a large cache of cannabis products with an estimated street value of N259.68 million as well as assorted military camouflage materials suspected to be meant for impersonation.
The Acting Customs Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Oladapo Afeni, disclosed the development during a media briefing at the command headquarters in Idiroko.
Afeni said the seizure followed credible intelligence gathered by operatives monitoring activities around the border communities notorious for smuggling and illegal trafficking.
According to him, officers intercepted a luxury bus without a registration number during a coordinated operation carried out along the border route.
He explained that a detailed search of the vehicle uncovered cartons loaded with military camouflage materials carefully concealed alongside high grade cannabis products.
The Customs boss warned that the illegal possession of military uniforms poses a grave threat to national security, especially at a time criminal groups increasingly disguise as security operatives to evade arrest.
He noted that such impersonation tactics have become a growing concern because they enable criminals to move contraband and perpetrate crimes without attracting suspicion.
Items recovered from the vehicle included 197 camouflage trousers and shorts hidden inside unmarked cartons.
The seizure also comprised five complete camouflage two piece sets, 32 mixed camouflage undergarments and 32 camouflage tops.
Afeni further disclosed that officers recovered 154 packs of synthetic cannabis popularly known as Canadian loud as well as seven parcels of Colorado, another potent cannabis variant.
He stressed that the command remained committed to tightening surveillance across the border axis to prevent criminal networks from exploiting the area for illegal trade.
The Customs controller called on residents and community leaders to support security agencies with timely and credible information capable of exposing criminal activities.
According to him, stronger collaboration among sister security agencies has continued to strengthen the fight against smuggling, drug trafficking and other transnational crimes.
Receiving the seized drugs, the Deputy Commander of Narcotics, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Idiroko Special Area Command, Ganiyu Adeyoye, described the operation as a major breakthrough in the battle against narcotics trafficking.
Adeyoye said the recovery of military uniforms alongside illicit drugs raised serious security concerns because such materials are often used by criminal elements for unlawful operations.
He added that the arrest linked to the seizure would aid ongoing investigations and ensure that all those connected with the illegal shipment are brought to justice.
The latest interception is expected to intensify security conversations around the Idiroko border corridor as authorities move to dismantle organised smuggling and impersonation syndicates operating within the region.