The Lagos State Police Command has arrested six suspected members of a syndicate allegedly responsible for diverting imported goods worth more than N20bn over a period of about 19 years.
The Punch reported that the suspects, identified as Lateef Jamiu, Abubakar Amadu, Aliu Olanshile, Opeyemi Oyewale, Hassana Malami and Hassana Haruna, were apprehended by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit following complaints from importers over missing consignments.
A police source said on Friday that Jamiu and Amadu were allegedly leaders of one of the two major goods-diversion syndicates operating in the country.
According to the source, the duo owned several trailers allegedly used to carry out the operations and had previously been arrested and prosecuted for similar offences before their release from prison earlier this year.
The source added that the suspects had invested in properties and other businesses in Niger Republic, the Republic of Benin and other locations.
The source said, “This group is one of the two most organised goods-diverting gangs in Nigeria. The other gang operates and is based in Kaduna. They target multi-million and billion-naira worth of goods.
“Most of the members have been arrested many times in the past, and because it is a bailable offence, they returned to the crime once they were released from prison.
“About four members of this syndicate, including the two leaders, Abubakar and Jamiu, were released from prison in February this year, while their drivers were released about two months later.”
Explaining how the syndicate allegedly operated, the source said the suspects usually positioned themselves around Lagos ports to identify importers searching for trucks to convey their consignments to other parts of the country.
“What they do is hang around the ports in Lagos and search for people in need of transportation for their imported goods to be moved to the North, East and other parts of Nigeria.
“They also join WhatsApp platforms of different transporters and transportation companies at the port, where transportation needs are advertised.
“Once they get the offer, they disappear with the goods and erase every trace that could lead to their whereabouts by changing their phones and SIM cards,” the source disclosed.
The source said 11 phones and eight SIM cards were recovered from Amadu during his latest arrest, noting that he had previously been arrested in 2023 with 49 phones and 188 SIM cards.
The syndicate was allegedly involved in the diversion of goods valued at over N20bn since it began operations about 19 years ago, while its latest operation involved forklifts, fabrics, imported plates and other goods worth about N3bn.
According to the source, the suspects had agreed to transport the consignment from Lagos to Kano at an agreed fee but allegedly diverted it to Ojota, Lagos, where the goods were reportedly offloaded and sold to receivers.
One of the alleged leaders, Jamiu, reportedly confessed to the offence, saying, “It is true that we agreed to help the importer move the goods from the port in Lagos to Kano. We negotiated and loaded the goods at the port, but instead of going to Kano, we diverted to a place in Ojota, where we offloaded them and sold them to our receivers.”
Jamiu, an indigene of Ibadan, Oyo State, reportedly told the police that he travelled between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin, where he claimed to have investments.
Amadu, 45, also reportedly told investigators that he had been involved in goods diversion with Jamiu for about 19 years after they met while working as truck drivers for their former employers.
He allegedly disclosed that he had investments in Niger Republic, where he reportedly fled after successful diversion operations in Nigeria.
The police investigation reportedly traced some of the diverted fabrics to a market in Agege, Lagos, where the importer identified the goods.
Further investigation led to the arrest of alleged receivers, truck drivers and the two suspected leaders.
The suspects had allegedly informed the importer that their truck broke down in Mokwa, Niger State, and collected money from him purportedly for repairs.
Confirming the arrests, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, described the operation as a major achievement by the Anti-Kidnapping Unit.
Adebisi said the investigation was continuing, with efforts underway to arrest other suspected members of the syndicate and recover goods allegedly diverted during previous operations.
“The arrests were in line with the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to officers across the country to intensify the fight against criminals involved in economic sabotage,” she added.
