The Osun State Police Command has arrested three suspects and recovered five bags of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp concealed in an abandoned Toyota Sienna Space Bus along the Moro–Ife Road in Moro Local Government Area of the state.
The suspects, identified as 38-year-old Awo Omotayo, 22-year-old Abayomi Suleiman and Oluwatayo Samuel, were arrested on August 30, 2026, after police operatives attached to the Violence Crime Response Unit (VCRU), Team E, discovered the suspected illicit substance in the vehicle.
According to a statement issued on Friday by the Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, the operatives were on routine patrol at about 1:30 p.m. when they encountered a silver-coloured Toyota Sienna Space Bus with registration number BGT 81 OLG, which had broken down and was abandoned by the roadside.
The police said Omotayo later arrived at the scene with a red Nissan Cabstar vehicle, registration number EPE 299 YJ, allegedly to tow the faulty Sienna.
The development reportedly aroused the suspicion of the operatives, who conducted a search of the Sienna and discovered bags containing weeds suspected to be Indian hemp.
The three men were subsequently arrested, while the suspected illicit substance, the Sienna and the Nissan Cabstar were taken to the police command for investigation.
During interrogation, Omotayo allegedly told investigators that a man identified as “Baba Ibo”, whose real name is yet to be established, hired him to transport the suspected illicit substance to Ogbomoso in Oyo State.
The suspect reportedly told the police that “Baba Ibo”, who allegedly operates around Garage Olode in Osun State, was in possession of the contact details of the intended recipient of the consignment in Ogbomoso.
The Commissioner of Police, Osun State Command, CP Ibrahim Zungura, has consequently ordered intensified investigation to uncover the source of the suspected illicit substance and identify its intended recipient.
The police also said efforts were ongoing to arrest “Baba Ibo” and other persons suspected to be connected with the alleged trafficking operation.
The Command urged members of the public to remain vigilant and provide credible information that could assist the police in apprehending fleeing suspects and tackling the trafficking of prohibited substances across the state.
The police stressed that investigation into the matter was still ongoing.
