The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has joined forces with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) to uncover the powerful international cartel behind a massive cocaine shipment valued at over ₦338 billion ($235 million) seized at the Tincan Island Port, Lagos.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, the 1,000-kilogram consignment was discovered by operators at the PTML Terminal, who alerted the NDLEA, the Nigeria Customs Service, and other security agencies after spotting suspicious packages inside an empty container.
Following a joint inspection, NDLEA operatives conducted field tests that confirmed the substance as pure cocaine. The shipment was then formally transferred to NDLEA custody on November 11, 2025, for further investigation.
“The NDLEA is collaborating with the US DEA and the UK NCA to uncover the cartel responsible for importing 1,000kg of cocaine through the Tincan Island Port,” Babafemi stated.
The agency’s chairman, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), described the seizure as the largest single cocaine bust in the history of the Tincan Port, emphasizing that the involvement of international partners underscores the global dimension of the trafficking network.
“Given the sheer volume and international value of the recovered drug, we deemed it necessary to engage our global partners,” Marwa said, confirming that DEA and NCA officers have joined the ongoing investigation.
The NDLEA noted that the cartel behind the operation is suspected to have links spanning multiple countries, prompting the swift activation of global intelligence-sharing mechanisms.
The historic seizure comes on the heels of NDLEA’s intensified nationwide crackdown on narcotics syndicates. On Sunday, the agency also confirmed the arrest of several suspects, including a wanted drug baron, Yussuf Azeez, apprehended at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
The NDLEA reaffirmed its commitment to dismantling transnational drug cartels and ensuring that Nigeria’s ports, airports, and borders remain hostile environments for illicit drug traffickers.
— Hobnob News 📰
