The Zone 2 Police Command, Onikan, Lagos, has dismantled two major criminal syndicates involved in the diversion and theft of goods in transit, recovering items valued at over ₦60 million.
The operation led to the arrest of nine suspects, aged between 42 and 62, following actionable intelligence received by the command’s Dragon Team.
According to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2, Olohundare Jimoh, the suspects were part of coordinated networks that specialized in redirecting goods from their intended destinations and selling them to black-market buyers at reduced prices.
Investigations revealed that the syndicates worked closely with truck drivers and their assistants, who deliberately diverted consignments before offloading them to illegal receivers.
The trucks were often abandoned at strategic locations to avoid detection.
In one case, the police uncovered a syndicate responsible for diverting two 45,000-litre trucks loaded with molasses originally bound for Benin.
One of the trucks was intercepted during an illegal transfer operation in the Itokin area of Lagos State, while the second was later recovered at a trailer park in Ogere, Ogun State, as suspects searched for buyers. Each truck was estimated to be worth ₦11 million.
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In a separate operation, detectives uncovered another syndicate that diverted a trailer load of dairy products valued at approximately ₦28 million.
The goods, initially loaded in Sagamu and destined for Jos, were rerouted to Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, and sold. Authorities recovered the items before they were fully distributed.
AIG Jimoh has ordered intensified investigations to track down other fleeing members of the syndicates.
He also reassured residents and business owners in Lagos and Ogun States of the command’s commitment to tackling economic sabotage and safeguarding commercial activities.
The suspects are expected to be charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations.
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