…”I WAS PAID N300,000 TO DELIVER THE ILLICIT DRUGS IN MUSHIN” – DRIVER
By Okosun Dennis
The 9 Brigade Commander, Brigadier General Adegoke Adetuyi has reiterated his determination to deal with drug barons and traffickers who are using the Idiroko borders corridor, saying that they would go after, catch them and prosecute suspects arrested by his men.
He gave the warning on Tuesday at the Brigade Headquarters, Ikeja Cantonment while handing over 5,010 wraps of substance suspected to be Indian hemp and three suspects to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
In his brief to journalists, Brig Gen Adetuyi explained that on 22nd July 2023, troops of 192 Battalion, Owode-Yewa, Ogun State, who were on a “Stop and Search” operation intercepted three suspected drug traffickers conveying about 5,010 wraps of substance suspected to be Indian Hemp at Ajilete.
At the time of arrest, the suspects were conveying the substances in 10 Tyre DAF truck with registration number: Lagos GGE 606 YF. Another registration number also found with them was a Ghana vehicle plate number: VR 365-22, an indication that they were using it to beat security and border agencies.
It was learnt that they were working for one “Alhaja” who lives at Egbeda but works at Mushin while the drugs were dispatched from Ghana.
The suspect identified as Olasende Olutosin, 43 years old from Emure in Ekiti state (driver), confessed that he was asked to convey the substances to Mushin on a fee of N300,000. He further revealed that the truck doesn’t belong to him but was handed over to him at Ajegunle in Ogun State, close to the border.
On his part, Augustine Oleh Chagozie, 25 years old motor boy, who hails from Oji River in Enugu state, confessed to the crime but said that the Alhaja promised to pay him N150,000 to assist in conveying the drugs to Mushin in Lagos State.
Bayere Clement, 44 years old from Kabba, Kogi State said his business is money changing at the Idiroko border and decided to journey with his friend, the driver of the truck to Lagos, oblivious of the fact that the truck was loaded with illicit drugs.
On how they were arrested, the driver, Olutosin, told our correspondent that on their way coming to Lagos, they had passed a Customs checkpoint before they were stopped by men of the Nigerian Army.
“The army climbed the truck, ransacked it, and realized that there was a form of construction (a compartment) in the truck. They broke it and found the drugs,” the driver of the truck revealed to our correspondent.
“The truck was driven from Ghana and parked at Ajegunle where I took over to deliver it to Alhaja in Mushin. They also seized three phones, some naira notes, Cedis and Benin Cefas from me,” he added.
Olutosin further revealed that he had assisted Alhaja to convey an undisclosed quantity of drugs to Lagos twice before being apprehended on his third trip. Asked to disclose the real name of the Alhaja, he feigned that he doesn’t know the name.
It was learnt that they travelled through Togo and the Benin Republic before they were eventually arrested at Ajilete Military Check Point.
Preliminary investigation revealed, according to Gen Adetuyi that the drugs were concealed in a falsely created compartment in the truck.
“It is worthy of note that this particular interception was the third major interception within a period of 10 days. The first was the smuggling through the same international route of some quantity of ammunition, the second was a consignment of 397 wraps of Indian Hemp, and this seizure with more than 5,000 wraps of the same illegal substance.
“The criminal elements should note that 9 Brigade will continue to collaborate with other security agencies within the Area of Responsibility and protect the territorial integrity of the country through the South Western.
“We advised them to desist from using the area” adding that they would go after them and ensure that Idiroko borders do not become a conduit pipe for the illicit drugs trafficking.
However, while receiving the drugs and the suspects from the Commander, the Assistant Commander of Narcotics, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), 9 Brigade, Innocent Adinna, said they were going to engage in an extensive investigation that would lead to the arrest of the Alhaja and bring her to justice.
“Expect successful investigation and prosecution. We would get to the root of it because there are barons and dealers behind this illicit trafficking,” Adinna explained to our correspondent.
