Police Intercept Truck Loaded With Military Camouflage, Suspected Drugs; Three Arrested

The Lagos State Police Command has intercepted an unregistered truck conveying 47 sacks of military camouflage uniforms and 80 cartons of suspected illicit drugs in an intelligence-led operation in the Surulere area of the state.

The Commissioner of Police, Fatai Tijani, disclosed this on Tuesday while briefing journalists at the command headquarters in Ikeja, adding that three suspects were arrested in connection with the seizure.

The suspects Chinedu David (29), Ezeagwu Chukwuma (38), and Ifeanyi Ogbeanyi (45) were apprehended on Saturday night by operatives of the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit.

According to Tijani, the suspects were arrested alongside an unregistered MAN diesel truck allegedly used to transport the items.

“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 identified as Chinedu David, Ezeagwu Chukwuma, and Ifeanyi Ogbeanyi,” the CP said.

“The operation led to the recovery of one unregistered MAN diesel truck loaded with 47 sacks of military camouflage uniforms and 80 cartons of substances suspected to be illicit drugs.”

He added that preliminary findings suggested the consignment was being moved to the South East region of the country.

Tijani said investigations were ongoing to trace the source of the uniforms and the suspected drugs as well as identify all individuals connected to the shipment.

“Investigation is ongoing to determine the source, ownership, and intended recipients of the recovered items, and to establish the extent of the suspects’ involvement,” he said.

The police commissioner also allayed concerns that the seizure posed any immediate security threat to Lagos residents, noting that the items were allegedly being transported out of the state.

“It does not pose any form of threat to Lagos State. They were moving out of the state. But given the current security situation in the country where criminals have been seen wearing military uniforms, we cannot rule out any possibility,” he added.

A police source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly, said the truck driver and his assistant were first arrested before two additional suspects linked to the consignment later turned themselves in at the Surulere division.

“We initially arrested the driver and his assistant. Two others later came to the station claiming ownership of the exhibits and were also taken in for questioning,” the source said.

The development comes amid rising concerns over the circulation of military grade uniforms among criminal elements across the country, prompting heightened security surveillance by law enforcement agencies.