Police bust gang who uses forged documents to divert goods from port

Operatives from the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS), Lagos State Command have arrested a syndicate that specialize in diverting goods from the seaport with forged documents. It was learnt that most of the forged documents used for the diversion are import duty papers, payment made to the Nigeria Customs Service and authorization from the terminal. […]

Operatives from the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS), Lagos State Command have arrested a syndicate that specialize in diverting goods from the seaport with forged documents.

It was learnt that most of the forged documents used for the diversion are import duty papers, payment made to the Nigeria Customs Service and authorization from the terminal.

The team who trailed the suspects from Apapa Port to their base at Ido area of the state also recovered about N10 million worth of goods from one of the gang’s warehouses.

The suspects had allegedly cleared the goods with the forged documents with yhe strong connivance of some officials of the Nigeria Customs Service.

Though, the suspects alleged that the goods were sold to them by another gang, but the State Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal, dismissed it with the wave of the hand, saying that it was greed that forced them into the illegal business.

Explaining how the gang members were nabbed, Edgal said that the Command got an information that a 1x 20 feet container laden with floor tiles and other building materials value about N 10 million was diverted from Apapa Port and off loaded into a shop at 24 Oluwo Plaza, Ido terminal, Lagos.

Edgal said that the criminal diversion of the goods was done with the aid of forged documents which enabled them to move the container out of the port.

According to him based on the above, FSARS operatives assisted by local Police Unit, located the shop and apprehended four persons namely Akeem Abdullahi, Yusuf Ganiyu, Ibrahim Suleimon and Femi Adewara

“Exhibit recovered from them are: 406 cartons of floor tiles, three packs of wooden frame, 30 wood PVC and six imported iron doors” he added.

He said that all the suspects had made useful statements that is helping the pomice to get to other fleeing members of the gang.

The Lagos State Police boss revealed that the syndicate has been in the business of diversion of cargoes for a very long time.

He said that the suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigation into the case is over