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The Lagos State Police Command has arrested six suspected members of a syndicate allegedly specialising in the diversion of imported goods from the Apapa Port, with the gang linked to goods worth over N20 billion.
Two of the suspects, Jamiu Lateef and Abubakar Amadu, are said to be multimillionaires with choice properties and investments in Niger Republic, Republic of Benin and other locations.
The two suspected kingpins, who reportedly own multiple trailers used for transportation business, are also said to be on the wanted lists of several police formations and commands across the country.
They were reportedly released from prison earlier this year after being arrested and prosecuted for goods diversion.
The suspects were arrested by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Lagos State Police Command following complaints by importers who raised the alarm over missing consignments.
The police said the arrest was in line with the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to officers across the country to go after criminals involved in economic sabotage.
The six suspects – Lateef Jamiu, Abubakar Amadu, Aliu Olanshile, Opeyemi Oyewale, Hassana Malami and Hassana Haruna – have been described by the police as members of one of the two most notorious goods diversion syndicates operating in Nigeria.
A police source, who pleaded anonymity, said: “The other gang is based in Kaduna. They target goods worth millions or billions of naira.
“Most of the members have been arrested several times in the past and, because it is a bailable offence, they return to the crime whenever they are released from prison.”
The source said four members of the syndicate, including the two alleged leaders, Abubakar and Jamiu, were released from prison in February this year, while their drivers were released about two months later.
According to the source, the syndicate members usually operate around the ports in Lagos, where they look for people in need of transportation services to move their imported goods to the North, East and other parts of the country.
“They also join WhatsApp platforms of different transporters and transportation companies at the port, where transportation needs are advertised. Once they get the offer, they disappear with the goods and erase every trace to their whereabouts by changing their phones and SIM cards,” the source said.
The source disclosed that 11 mobile phones and eight SIM cards were recovered from Abubakar when he was arrested, adding that he had earlier been arrested in 2023 with 49 phones and 188 SIM cards.
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The syndicate is allegedly responsible for the diversion of goods worth over N20 billion in the last 19 years of its operations.
In its latest operation, the gang allegedly diverted goods, including forklifts, fabrics and imported plates, valued at about N3 billion.
The suspects reportedly offered an importer their truck to transport the goods from the Lagos port to Kano at an agreed fee.
One of the alleged leaders, Jamiu, reportedly confessed during interrogation that the gang collected the goods from the port but diverted them to Ojota, Lagos, where they were offloaded and sold to their receivers.
Jamiu, an indigene of Ibadan, Oyo State, whose wife and children reside overseas, also reportedly confessed that he shuttled between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin, where some of his investments are located.
The other alleged leader, 45-year-old Abubakar Amadu, reportedly told police interrogators that he started diverting goods with Jamiu about 19 years ago after they met while working as truck drivers for their former employers.
He also reportedly confessed that some of his investments were located in Niger Republic, where he allegedly fled after successful operations in Nigeria.
It was gathered that, while investigating the latest diversion, the police team traced some of the diverted fabrics to a market in Agege, Lagos, where they were identified by the importer.
Further investigation led to the arrest of alleged receivers of the goods, the truck drivers and the two suspected gang leaders.
The suspects had reportedly lied to the importer that their truck broke down in Mokwa, Niger State, and collected money from him purportedly to repair the vehicle.
The Lagos State Police Command spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, described the arrest as a “big achievement” by the Anti-Kidnapping Unit.
She said investigation was ongoing, with a view to arresting other members of the syndicate and recovering some of the goods allegedly diverted during their previous operations.
