Michael Adesanya/Abeokuta
The Ogun State Area Command, Nigeria Customs Service on Tuesday intercepted a Toyota Coaster bus belonging to Federal University of Agriculture, laden with neatly concealed wraps of Indian Hemp, along Imeko Afon axis of the Idiroko border.
The Controller of the Command, Sani Madugu who revealed this to journalists at the command’s headquarters, Abeokuta, disclosed that 211 parcels of concealed Indian Hemp cut into bible sizes were also discovered in the bus.
He said Customs operatives who were on patrol on Saturday, August 12 intercepted the vehicle and subsequently apprehended the driver of the vehicle, Abolade Bolaji with the registration number plate, FUNAAB 50 B-100 FG.
The Custom boss who was accompanied by state Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Bala Fagge said, “the suspect,Abolade Bolaji was caught in Imeko border town, while conveying the illegal drugs into the country.”
The Customs boss said, “he concealed the parcels of Indian Hemp (cannabis) under bags of rice he was conveying with the vehicle to Abeokuta,when nemesis caught up with him.
” Of course, our operatives on patrol stoped the vehicle and searched it, only to discover the illicit drugs.”
Madugu later handed over the illicit drugs to NDLEA, for further investigation.
Fagge, while receiving both the suspect and exhibits ,commended the Customs for the feat, disclosing that Indian Hemp was now being cultivated in neighbouring countries, with market in Nigeria,adding that the cannabis recovered from the suspect weighed 295.4kg.
However, reacting to the interception of the school bus, the FUNAAB authorities, said it would not interfere in the investigation of the matter, describing it as unfortunate.
In a reaction signed by Head of the Public Relations Directorate, Mrs Emi Alawode, the institution said it has put in place necessary machinery to carry out thorough investigation of the incident.
The statement read in part, “The attention of the University has been drawn to an unfortunate incidence that was said to have occurred on Saturday, August 12, 2017, in which one of its drivers, using the University official vehicle in his possession, was said to have been apprehended along Olorunda, Ogun State by law enforcement agents, for allegedly being in possession of substances suspected to have been smuggled.
“Already, the University has put the necessary machinery in place, to carry out proper investigations, to ascertain what actually transpired on the said date on one hand, while law enforcement agents, on the other hand, would be allowed and supported to perform their statutory duties in the overall interest of all citizens.”