The Lagos State Police Command has intercepted a truck loaded with military camouflage uniforms and cartons of suspected hard drugs, arresting four suspects in an operation authorities say has exposed a potentially dangerous criminal supply network.

Police said the truck was intercepted on Saturday along the Lekki-Epe corridor following intelligence reports that the consignment was being moved out of Lagos.

Commissioner of Police, CP Tijani Fatai, said operatives of the State Tactical Squad acted on credible information and tracked the vehicle before making the arrests.

“These bags you are seeing here contain military camouflage. We received information and swung into action. The vehicle conveying the sacks was intercepted while moving out of Lagos State, and those carrying them were arrested,” Fatai said.

During a search of the truck, officers recovered multiple sacks containing military camouflage uniforms and cartons of suspected prohibited drugs. The exhibits have been secured while investigations continue.

Police said preliminary findings suggest the consignment was headed to Nigeria’s South-East region, although authorities have not disclosed a specific destination.

The seizure comes amid growing concern over the use of military uniforms by criminal groups involved in kidnapping, banditry and other violent crimes across the country.

“With the trend of events across the country, especially in areas affected by banditry and other violent crimes, we have seen criminal elements wearing military uniforms. We do not yet know what these uniforms were meant for, and that is why the investigation is ongoing,” Fatai added.

Authorities are now working to determine the intended recipients of the uniforms and whether the suspects are linked to a broader criminal network.

Foreign Nationals Arrested in Separate Operation

In a separate intelligence-led operation on Lagos Island, police arrested 36 foreign nationals from seven African countries, including Chad, Burkina Faso, Benin Republic, Mali, Togo, Cameroon and Guinea.

According to the police commissioner, the individuals were unable to provide satisfactory explanations for their activities in Nigeria.

“All they could tell us was that they were into networking. They could not clearly explain what they were doing in the country,” Fatai said.

The suspects are being profiled by the State Criminal Investigation Department and are expected to be handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service for further investigation and possible immigration-related action.

Police clarified that the group is unrelated to foreign nationals recently featured in viral social media reports, describing the arrests as the result of separate intelligence-gathering operations.

Weapons Recovered in Ijanikin Raid

The command also reported the recovery of firearms during a separate operation in the Ijanikin area of Lagos.

Acting on information provided by residents, officers arrested several suspects and recovered two double-barrel guns and six locally made single-barrel firearms.

Police said those arrested have provided useful information to investigators, with efforts ongoing to identify and apprehend other members of the network.

“We are still investigating to unravel those behind it,” Fatai said.

The Lagos State Police Command said investigations into all three operations remain ongoing, with additional arrests expected as detectives work to identify the financiers and coordinators behind the recovered military uniforms, suspected drugs and illegal weapons.