The Ogun I Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted a luxury passenger bus carrying military camouflage uniforms, cannabis sativa and other prohibited items allegedly smuggled into the country.
According to a report by Punch Newspapers, the interception took place around 1:30am on Sunday along the Sagamu–Ore–Benin Expressway while the items were being transported to the eastern part of Nigeria.
Speaking during a press briefing in Idiroko on Monday, the acting Area Controller, Oladapo Afeni, said the luxury bus had no registration number and was intercepted through intelligence-led surveillance after allegedly bypassing several security checkpoints from Lagos to Ogun State.
Afeni disclosed that the vehicle, owned by a transport company, also contained illicit drugs including Colorado and other uncustomed goods.
He revealed that a full physical examination uncovered 197 camouflage trousers and shorts hidden inside unmarked cartons, five complete camouflage uniforms, and 32 mixed camouflage tops and innerwear.
Customs officers also seized 154 parcels of synthetic cannabis indica, widely known as Canadian Loud, alongside seven parcels of Colorado and other items still undergoing checks.
Afeni said preliminary investigations suggested the military uniforms were intended for unauthorised persons and could have been used for impersonation or criminal operations.
He noted that intelligence reports had earlier exposed how commercial transport operators were being used to move contraband goods along federal highways under the guise of legitimate business activities.
The customs boss estimated the street value of the seized drugs and military items at more than N259m.
Two suspects were arrested in connection with the seizure and are expected to face further investigation as authorities attempt to uncover other members of the smuggling network.
Afeni warned that the combination of illicit drugs and military uniforms pointed to an organised threat to national security.
“Unauthorised possession of military apparel is often linked to impersonation, where criminals disguise themselves as security personnel to commit atrocities or facilitate the movement of contraband,” he said.
The seized cannabis and suspects were later handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Idiroko Special Command for further investigation and prosecution.
Receiving the exhibits on behalf of the agency, Williams Ekundayo, represented by deputy commander Ganiyu Adeyooye, commended customs operatives for the successful interception.
Afeni reiterated the command’s commitment to tackling smuggling and cross-border crimes, urging residents to support security agencies with credible information on suspicious activities.
The command recently transferred 10,126 parcels of cannabis indica, known as Ghana Loud, weighing about 4,627kg and valued at N5bn to the NDLEA in Idiroko.
Within five weeks of intensified anti-smuggling operations, the command also seized 1,759 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 2,685 kegs of vegetable oil and 14,550 litres of petroleum products, with a cumulative duty paid value of N6.777bn.
