The Lagos State Police Command has arrested six suspected members of a syndicate allegedly involved in diverting imported goods worth more than N20 billion from Apapa Port and other locations over a period of about 19 years.
The suspects were identified as Jamiu Lateef, Abubakar Amadu, Aliu Olanshile, Opeyemi Oyewale, Hassana Malami and Hassana Haruna.
According to the police, Lateef and Amadu are alleged leaders of the syndicate and own several trailers used to transport goods. They are also accused of having investments and properties in Niger Republic, the Republic of Benin and other locations. Police said the two men had previously appeared on the wanted lists of several commands and had been arrested and prosecuted in connection with alleged goods diversion.
The six suspects were arrested by operatives of the Lagos State Police Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit following complaints from importers whose consignments allegedly disappeared after being handed over to transporters.
A police source described the group as one of two major syndicates allegedly involved in goods diversion in Nigeria, with the other said to be based in Kaduna.
“This group is one of the two most organised goods-diverting gangs in Nigeria. The other gang operates and is based in Kaduna. They target goods worth millions or billions of naira,” the source said.
The source further alleged that some members of the syndicate had been arrested in the past but returned to the alleged operation after their release.
About four members of the group, including Lateef and Amadu, were reportedly released from prison in February, while some of their drivers were released about two months later. Police alleged that the suspects operated around Lagos ports, offering transportation services to importers moving goods to northern, eastern and other parts of Nigeria.
According to investigators, the suspects also joined WhatsApp groups used by transporters and logistics companies, where requests for haulage services were posted. After securing a contract, they allegedly diverted the consignments instead of delivering them to their intended destinations. They were also accused of changing their phones and SIM cards after the alleged diversions to make them difficult to trace.
Police said 11 phones and eight SIM cards were recovered from Amadu during his latest arrest. Investigators alleged that he had previously been arrested in 2023 with 49 phones and 188 SIM cards.
The police estimate that the syndicate may have diverted goods worth more than N20 billion since it allegedly began operating about 19 years ago.
In its latest alleged operation, the group was accused of diverting forklifts, fabrics and imported plates valued at about N3 billion. Police said the suspects provided a truck to an importer who wanted the goods transported from Lagos to Kano.
During interrogation, Lateef reportedly admitted that the goods were instead taken to Ojota in Lagos, where they were allegedly unloaded and sold to receivers.
“It is true that we agreed to help the importer move the goods from the port in Lagos to Kano. We negotiated, loaded the goods at the port but instead of going to Kano, we diverted to a place in Ojota, where we offloaded it and sold it to our receivers,” he reportedly said.
Lateef, an indigene of Ibadan, Oyo State, also reportedly told investigators that he travelled between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin, where some of his investments were located.
Amadu, 45, allegedly told investigators that he and Lateef began diverting goods about 19 years ago after meeting while working as truck drivers for their former employers. He reportedly claimed to have investments in Niger Republic and allegedly travelled there after successful operations in Nigeria, according to the police.
During the investigation into the latest alleged diversion, police traced some of the missing fabrics to a market in Agege, where the importer reportedly identified them.
Further investigation led to the arrest of alleged receivers, truck drivers and the two suspected leaders of the syndicate. Police also alleged that the suspects falsely told the importer that their truck had broken down in Mokwa, Niger State, and subsequently collected additional money from him purportedly for repairs.
The Lagos State Police Command spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, described the arrests as a “big achievement” for the Anti-Kidnapping Unit. She said investigations were continuing to identify and arrest other suspected members of the syndicate and recover goods allegedly diverted during previous operations.
The allegations against the suspects have not been proven in court.
