According to the army, the operation was carried out on Tuesday by troops of 192 Battalion operating in 81 Division Area of Responsibility.
The Nigerian Army has said it busted a suspected international drug syndicate smuggling a truckload of substance suspected to be Cannabis Sativa (Marijuana) en route to Sango Otta in Ogun State.
According to the army, the operation was carried out on Tuesday by troops of 192 Battalion operating in 81 Division Area of Responsibility.
Brig. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations in a statement on Wednesday said the substance was concealed in a truck that came in from Ghana.
It said, “Responding to actionable intelligence, troops conducted stop and search operations along Ajilete Road in Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State, during which they intercepted and impounded the suspected truck without Registration number, loaded with 397 wraps of substance suspected to be marijuana.
“In the preliminary investigations that followed, it was revealed that the illicit substance concealed in the truck was transported from Ghana through Benin Republic via Igholo-Idiroko en route Sango Otta.
“The suspects conveying the illegal drugs have been identified as Mr Matthew Edegbe, a Benin Republic national and Mr Joshua Dansu of Idiroko, who are currently assisting in ongoing investigations.
“Items recovered from the suspects include the truck's Registration number identified as (T 1826 LA Lagos), which was detached and concealed in the vehicle to prevent identification, an Infinix and Itel phone, one iPhone, a Benin Republic National Identification card and a Driver's license belonging to one George Benyagbe, as well as the sum of Seven Thousand Naira (N7000) only.
“The suspects, vehicle and exhibits have been taken into custody, pending handing over to National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Lagos State Command.
“Recall that troops of the Battalion on Saturday 15 July 2023 intercepted a truck load of over 20,000 cartridges of ammunition heading to Anambra state.”