The Lagos State Police Command has arrested six suspected members of a syndicate accused of 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.
Police alleged that Lateef and Amadu were leaders of the syndicate and owned several trailers used for transporting goods. They are also alleged to have investments and properties in Niger Republic, the Republic of Benin and other locations. The pair were reportedly already on the wanted lists of several police commands and had previously been arrested and prosecuted over alleged goods diversion offences.
Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit arrested the six suspects following complaints from importers about consignments that disappeared after being entrusted to transporters. A police source described the group as one of two major syndicates allegedly involved in goods diversion in Nigeria, with another said to operate from 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 claimed that several members had previously been arrested 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 their drivers were released about two months later. Police alleged that the suspects operated around Lagos ports and offered transportation services to importers seeking to move goods to northern, eastern and other parts of Nigeria.
They were also accused of joining WhatsApp groups used by transporters and logistics companies, where requests for haulage services were advertised. Once hired, the suspects allegedly diverted the consignments instead of delivering them to their intended destinations and then changed their phones and SIM cards to make themselves difficult to trace.
Police claimed that 11 phones and eight SIM cards were recovered from Amadu during his latest arrest. He had allegedly been arrested in 2023 with 49 phones and 188 SIM cards. Investigators believe the syndicate may have diverted goods valued at 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 worth about N3 billion. Police said the suspects provided a truck to an importer who wanted the goods transported from Lagos to Kano. Lateef reportedly admitted during police interrogation 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 in 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, where police said he would travel after successful operations in Nigeria. During the investigation into the latest alleged diversion, police traced some of the missing fabrics to a market in Agege, where they were reportedly identified by the importer.
Further investigation led to the arrests of alleged receivers, truck drivers and the two suspected leaders. Police also alleged that the suspects falsely told the importer that their truck had broken down in Mokwa, Niger State, and collected additional money from him for repairs.
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.