The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has launched a joint investigation with international partners following the interception of a massive cocaine shipment valued at approximately ₦338 billion at the PTML Terminal of the Tincan Island Port, Lagos.
The collaboration involves the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA), as authorities move to trace the criminal network behind the importation of 1,000 kilograms of cocaine concealed within cargo containers at the busy seaport.
According to NDLEA sources, the operation was the result of sustained intelligence sharing between Nigerian and international anti-narcotics units. Preliminary findings suggest the consignment originated from South America and was intended for distribution through multiple West African countries.
NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd.), confirmed the development, emphasizing that Nigeria’s ongoing partnership with foreign agencies underscores the nation’s commitment to dismantling transnational drug trafficking syndicates.
“This seizure demonstrates our zero tolerance for drug trafficking and our readiness to collaborate with global partners to bring all those involved to justice,” Marwa stated.
The NDLEA further revealed that several suspects have been detained in connection with the seizure, while efforts are ongoing to track the masterminds believed to be operating from outside Nigeria.
This operation marks one of the largest drug interceptions in Nigeria’s history and reinforces the NDLEA’s intensified war against narcotics within the country’s maritime routes.
