Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has launched a joint investigation with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) following the discovery of a massive cocaine shipment at the Tincan Island Port in Lagos.
The 1,000-kilogram consignment, valued at more than $235 million (₦338 billion) on the international market, was found in an empty container at the PTML Terminal over the weekend. PTML operators alerted port stakeholders, prompting a joint inspection by the NDLEA, Nigerian Customs Service, and other security agencies.
Field tests later confirmed the substance to be cocaine, and the NDLEA took custody of the drugs on Tuesday for further investigation.
According to NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), the scale and complexity of the seizure required close cooperation with international law enforcement partners.
He further noted that the essence of collaborating with international partners is to ensure that no stone is left unturned and every gap is sufficiently covered, so that all masterminds of this consignment are brought to justice wherever they are across the globe.
Following direct coordination between Marwa and Comptroller General of Customs, Dr. Adewale Adeniyi, both the US DEA and UK NCA have now joined Nigerian authorities in what is being described as the largest single cocaine seizure ever recorded at the Lagos port.
Authorities say the investigation will focus on uncovering the full network behind the transnational drug trafficking operation.
