In Ogun State, troops from the Nigerian Army’s 192 Battalion, 81 Division, detained individuals from a rumored international drug ring and seized 296 wraps of illegal materials thought to be Cannabis sativa.

The suspects were intercepted, according to a statement provided to journalists and signed by Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations.

Based on reliable information, the illegal substances were found on Sunday, January 14, 2024, near the Balogun border in Ogun State in a Sienna 2001 Model Space Bus registered as Lagos APP 129 EF.

He clarified that after a thorough search of the car, the watchful soldiers found layers of compartments filled with 296 wraps of what appeared to be marijuana.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the wraps of illicit substance were transported from Benin Republic, through border communities in Ilara on route to Ifo, Ogun State,” the statement reads.

It was also discovered that the international drug traffickers needed five months to hide the drug before delivering it to their customers. In connection with the crime, two suspects were taken into custody.

The suspects, identified as Mr. Adigun Olatunji, 54, and Mr. Michael Atanda, 18, who both live in the Benin Republic but are from Ilara Imeko in Afun LGA of Ogun State, have been placed under arrest pending further necessary actions following their unsuccessful attempt to bribe troops with twelve million naira.

One national identification card from the Benin Republic, one from Nigeria, and two Itel cell phones were among the items found on the suspects. A Benin Republic power bank, an MP3 player, six Benin Republic SIM packs, two Benin Republic SIM cards, a Nigerian driver’s license, and a Benin Republic international passport are among the other items.

Moreover, the suspects had a memory card, local charms, and N52,700 recovered from them.

“The suspects and all the items recovered are in safe custody, pending handover to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for prosecution, ” The statement added.

News recalls that troops of the battalion have, in recent times, recorded a huge breakthrough that led to the confiscation of a large cache of ammunition and illicit substances across the Nigerian and Benin Republic border on November 12, 2023.