By Augustine Ehikioya
Following credible intelligence, troops of 192 Battalion, 81 Division, Nigerian Army, have intercepted a suspected transnational drug syndicate operating with a Sienna 2001 Model Space Bus, with registration number Lagos APP 129 EF.
The car was loaded with illicit substances, suspected to be Cannabis Sativa.
The suspects, according to a statement by the Director Army Public Relations, Major General, Onyema Nwachukwu, and made available to Security Watch Africa {SWA), were intercepted on Sunday 14 January, 2024, along Balogun Border in Ogun State.
It reads “Vigilant troops conducted a thorough search on the vehicle and detected layers of compartments packed with 296 wraps of substance suspected to be marijuana.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the wraps of illicit substance were transported from Benin Republic, through Ilara Border communities en-route Ifo, Ogun State.
“It was further revealed that it took the transnational drug traffickers five months to conceal the substance for delivery to their clients. Two suspects were arrested in connection to the crime.
“The suspects, identified as one Mr Adigun Olatunji, age 54 years and Mr Michael Atanda aged 18 yrs, both from Ilara Imeko in Afun Local Government Area of Ogun state, reside in Benin Republic. They have been taken into custody for further necessary actions, after a failed attempt to bribe troops with the sum of Twelve Million Naira (N12,000,000.00).”
Other items recovered from the suspects, the statement said, included one Benin Republic National ID Card, one Nigerian National ID Card and two small Itel mobile phones.
“Others include one Benin Republic driver’s license, a Benin Republic International Passport, six Benin Republic SIM packs, 2 Benin Republic SIM cards, one Nigerian driver’s license, one power bank and one MP3 player. Additionally, a memory card, local charms, as well as the sum of Fifty Two Thousand, Seven Hundred Naira (N52,700.00) only were recovered from the suspects.”
The suspects and all the items recovered, it said, are in safe custody, pending handover to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for prosecution.
It added “Recall that troops of the Battalion have in recent times made huge operational breakthroughs that led to the confiscation of large cache of ammunition and illicit substances across the Nigerian and Benin Republic border on the 12 November, 2023.
“The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja commends the troops for their vigilance and commitment. He further charged them to sustain the tempo in the interest of national security for the common good of all Nigerians.
