Lagos Police: Lagos N20bn Imported Goods Diversion Syndicate Busted

• Lagos police arrested six suspects linked to a syndicate that diverted over N20 billion worth of imported goods in 19 years.
• Leaders Lateef Jamiu and Abubakar Amadu, previously arrested and released this year, allegedly own trailers and have investments abroad.
• The syndicate operated by securing transport contracts at Lagos ports, then diverting consignments like a recent N3 billion shipment to Ojota instead of Kano.
• Their method involved changing phones and SIM cards to evade detection, with Amadu found with multiple devices during arrests.
• The long-running operation highlights challenges posed by goods diversion being a bailable offense, allowing repeat offenders to continue their activities.

The longevity and persistence of this commercial fraud Lagos syndicate, operating for nearly two decades, underscore significant challenges within the legal and enforcement frameworks.

The Lagos State Police Command has successfully apprehended six individuals suspected of operating a sophisticated syndicate responsible for the diversion of imported goods valued at over N20 billion across Nigeria. This significant breakthrough, targeting a major Lagos N20bn imported goods diversion syndicate, follows extensive complaints from importers regarding missing consignments. The arrests were carried out by operatives from the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, bringing to light a long-running scheme that has plagued the nation's supply chain for nearly two decades.

The suspects, identified as Lateef Jamiu, Abubakar Amadu, Aliu Olanshile, Opeyemi Oyewale, Hassana Malami, and Hassana Haruna, are believed to be part of one of the two most organized goods diversion syndicates operating within the country. Their most recent alleged operation involved the diversion of forklifts, fabrics, imported plates, and other goods worth approximately N3 billion. This consignment was reportedly destined for Kano from Lagos but was instead rerouted to Ojota, Lagos, where it was offloaded and sold to waiting receivers. One of the alleged leaders, Jamiu, an indigene of Ibadan, Oyo State, reportedly confessed to the police about the diversion, acknowledging that the goods were loaded at the port under the pretense of transport to Kano before being diverted and sold.

The syndicate's operational strategy highlights a significant vulnerability in the Lagos supply chain fraud landscape. Members would frequently loiter around Lagos ports, actively seeking out importers in need of transportation services for their consignments to various parts of Nigeria, including the North and East. They also infiltrated WhatsApp platforms used by transporters and logistics companies, where transportation needs are routinely advertised. Once an offer was secured, the syndicate would disappear with the goods, meticulously erasing their tracks by changing phones and SIM cards to avoid detection.

Lateef Jamiu and Abubakar Amadu are reportedly at the helm of this extensive operation, allegedly owning several trailers used to facilitate their illicit activities. Amadu, aged 45, informed police interrogators that he had been involved in diverting goods with Jamiu for approximately 19 years, having met while working in the transportation sector. During his recent arrest, authorities recovered 11 phones and 8 SIM cards from Amadu, a pattern consistent with a previous arrest in 2023 where he was found with 49 phones and 188 SIM cards. The scale of this Nigeria cargo theft Lagos port operation is further underscored by the fact that the syndicate has allegedly acquired properties and made investments in countries like Niger Republic and the Republic of Benin, with Jamiu himself confessing to having investments in the latter and shuttling between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin.

The longevity and persistence of this commercial fraud Lagos syndicate, operating for nearly two decades, underscore significant challenges within the legal and enforcement frameworks. Both Jamiu and Amadu have faced previous arrests and prosecutions for similar offenses, only to be released from prison earlier this year—Jamiu and Amadu in February, and their drivers approximately two months later. This recurring cycle is attributed to the fact that goods diversion is often considered a bailable offense, allowing perpetrators to return to their criminal activities once released.

Police sources indicate that this group is one of two highly organized goods-diverting gangs in Nigeria, with the other major syndicate reportedly based in Kaduna. These groups specifically target multi-million and billion-naira consignments, demonstrating a high level of sophistication and planning. The repeated arrests and subsequent releases of key members highlight a systemic issue that enables such large-scale imported goods diversion Nigeria to persist, posing an ongoing threat to businesses and the national economy.

This incident underscores the persistent and sophisticated risk of goods diversion for businesses importing through Lagos ports; legal and compliance teams should immediately review their supply chain due diligence, transporter vetting procedures, and cargo insurance policies to mitigate exposure to such organised criminal syndicates.

Source: Original reporting via Punch Newspaper