A massive international investigation is underway after the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), in collaboration with American and British crime agencies, intercepted a colossal shipment of 1,000 kilograms of cocaine valued at over N338 billion at a Lagos port. The seizure represents the largest single bust of its kind at the Tincan Island Port.
The illicit consignment was discovered inside an empty container at the PTML Terminal last weekend. Alert operators at the terminal immediately notified port stakeholders, triggering a joint inspection involving the NDLEA, the Nigeria Customs Service, and other security bodies.
According to a statement issued by the NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, field tests conducted by the agency's officers confirmed the substance to be cocaine. The consignment was formally transferred to NDLEA custody on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, for a comprehensive investigation.
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“The NDLEA is working with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration and the United Kingdom National Crime Agency to unravel the cartel behind the importation of 1,000 kilogrammes of cocaine recovered from a container at the PTML Terminal of Tincan Island Port in Lagos,” Babafemi stated.
He detailed the sequence of events, noting that the discovery was made in an empty container and that the subsequent joint examination and testing led to the historic seizure. The collaboration was solidified through engagements between the NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), and the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi.
Due to the sheer scale of the discovery and its implications of a sophisticated global network, the NDLEA chief immediately called for international reinforcement. “As a result of the large quantity of the recovered Class A drug, which is worth over $235m (over N338bn)... Marwa on Tuesday, November 11, directed that the agency’s leading international partners be involved in the investigation,” the statement added.
In a swift response, officers from the US DEA and the UK National Crime Agency have already joined the probe. This international partnership aims to track down and dismantle the powerful cartel responsible for the shipment. The bust is a significant milestone in the NDLEA's ongoing war against drug trafficking, which has seen the agency seize 8.5 million kilograms of drugs and secure over 9,263 convictions in the past 30 months.
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