The Lagos State Police Command have arrested suspects following the interception of a truck loaded with weapons, military camouflage uniforms and cartons of suspected hard drugs allegedly being transported from Lagos to the South-east region of Nigeria. 

The operation, carried out by operatives attached to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, was described by authorities as a significant breakthrough in the fight against the illegal movement of restricted materials and contraband across the country.

The Lagos Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Tijani, disclosed details of the operation while briefing journalists at the Command Headquarters in Ikeja. He said the operation was triggered by actionable intelligence that directed operatives to intercept an unregistered MAN diesel truck along a route in Lagos. Upon searching the vehicle, operatives discovered 47 sacks containing military camouflage uniforms and caps, as well as 80 cartons of substances suspected to be illicit drugs.

The suspects were apprehended in the early hours of Saturday, June 20, 2026, in the Epe area of the state. Those arrested include Chinedu David, aged 29, Ezeagwu Chukwuma, aged 38, and Ifeanyi Ogbeanyi, aged 45. Preliminary investigations revealed that the truck was allegedly being used to transport the military camouflage uniforms to the eastern part of the country, raising serious security concerns about the intended use of the materials.

The Commissioner described the arrest as a major step forward in efforts to curb the illegal movement of military-grade materials, stressing that the command remained committed to staying ahead of criminal networks seeking to exploit security vulnerabilities in the state and beyond.

All suspects have been taken into custody and investigations are ongoing to establish the full network behind the illicit consignment.

The discovery comes amid heightened security concerns in parts of Nigeria’s South-east, where security forces have been battling a sustained wave of armed violence and attacks on government institutions. Authorities have previously raised alarm over the illegal circulation of military uniforms among non-state actors, warning that such materials are often used to impersonate security personnel and carry out attacks on civilians and law enforcement.