Troops from the 192 Battalion, 81 Division, Nigerian Army, acting on credible intelligence, intercepted a suspected transnational drug syndicate operating a Sienna 2001 Model Space Bus with registration number Lagos APP 129 EF. The vehicle was loaded with illicit substances suspected to be Cannabis Sativa. The suspects were intercepted on Sunday, January 14, 2024, along the Balogun border in Ogun State.

Vigilant troops conducted a thorough search on the vehicle and detected layers of compartments packed with 296 wraps of a substance suspected to be marijuana.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the wraps of illicit substance were transported from Benin Republic, through Ilara border communities en route to 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 Mr. Adigun Olatunji, aged 54, and Mr. Michael Atanda, aged 18, both from Ilara Imeko in Afun LGA 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 (12,000,000.00).

Other items recovered from the suspects include 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 (52,700.00) only were recovered from the suspects.

The suspects and all the items recovered are in safe custody, pending handover to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for prosecution.

Recall that troops of the Battalion have, in recent times, made huge operational breakthroughs that led to the confiscation of a large cache of ammunition and illicit substances across the Nigerian and Benin Republic border on November 12, 2023.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, commends the troops for their vigilance and commitment. He further charges them to sustain the tempo in the interest of national security for the common good of all Nigerians.