By Florencemary Nwabueze
In a fight against economic sabotage and cargo theft, the operatives of Zone 2 police command Headquarters Onikan Lagos, has dismantled two notorious syndicates specialized in the stealing and diversion of goods in transit, arresting nine suspects and recovering stolen products valued at over sixty N60million.
According to a statement released on Monday by the Public Relations Officer, DSP Afolayan Gbenga, the operation was conducted by the Dragon Team, led by the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Olohundare Moshood Jimoh.
"Acting on credible intelligence received from a reliable informant, detectives attached to Zone 2 headquarters Dragon Team launched a covert investigation aimed at dismantling the criminal networks responsible for the diversion of goods from their intended destination to illegal receivers and black market buyers." The statement reads
Suspects arrested include: Innocent Nkem (49), Gasali Ojo (42), Arogundade Owolabi (56), Banji Olatunji (43), Dickson Nchekwube (46), Henry Uwa (51), Ikechukwu Olua (52), Oludare Ebunolu (63), and Imadu Charles (62).
According to the police, the two syndicate were arrested after investigations revealed that the truck drivers and their assistants would deliberately divert trucks carrying valuable goods from their lawful destinations. After selling the products to receivers at ridiculously low prices, the suspects would abandon the trailers at strategic locations and flee to evade arrest.
In the first case, detectives intercepted a syndicate that had diverted two Benin-bound (Edo State) trucks, each carrying 45,000 litres of molasses chemical.
One truck was caught in the act illegally trans-loading the chemical at the Itokin area of Lagos State to a receiver identified as Banji Olatunji.
The second truck was recovered at the Ogere trailer park in Ogun State, where the suspect was still searching for a buyer. Each truckload of molasses chemical is estimated to be worth ₦11 million.
In a related development, the command uncovered another syndicate that diverted a Jos-bound (Plateau State) trailer load of dairy products. The goods, originally loaded in Sagamu, were illegally diverted to a receiver named Oludare Ebunolu in the Ijebu-Ode area of Ogun State. Detectives swiftly recovered the dairy products, valued at approximately ₦28 million.
Reacting to the areest, the Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG Olorundare Jimoh, has ordered that investigations be intensified to track down other fleeing members of the syndicates.
"No stone will be left unturned in crushing all forms of crimes and criminal syndicates within Lagos and Ogun state." He stated
The AIG further said that the suspects will be arraigned in a competent court of law upon the conclusion of investigations.
The Zone 2 Headquarters reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding commercial activities and ensuring no criminal elements find a hiding place in the region.