The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has opened a joint investigation with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (US-DEA) and the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (UK-NCA) after 1,000 kilograms of cocaine were recovered from a container at the PTML Terminal of Tincan Island Port, Lagos.
Port operators reportedly detected the suspicious consignment in an empty container last weekend and immediately invited NDLEA, Customs and other security agencies for a joint examination.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday, November 11, by the Director of Media & Advocacy at NDLEA headquarters, Femi Babafemi, field tests conducted by NDLEA operatives confirmed the substance as cocaine.
The consignment, valued at over $235 million (more than ₦338 billion), was transferred to NDLEA custody after engagements between NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), and the Comptroller-General of Customs, Dr Adewale Adeniyi.
Marwa Orders International Collaboration
Given the scale of the seizure and its international footprint, Marwa directed that top global partners be brought into the probe.
In response, officers of the US-DEA and UK-NCA have now joined NDLEA investigators, marking one of the biggest multinational drug-crime collaborations at the Tincan Port.
Marwa described the find as the largest single cocaine seizure ever recorded at Tincan Port, stressing that the international collaboration is key to unmasking the cartel behind it.
“The essence of collaborating with our international partners on this case is to ensure no stone is left unturned and every gap is sufficiently covered so that ultimately we can get all the masterminds of this huge consignment brought to book wherever they are located across the globe,” the NDLEA boss said.
He added that the coordinated effort followed his “excellent engagement” with the Customs CG.
Naijaonpoint understands that security agencies have begun tracing the shipment’s route, ownership and the network behind the one-tonne drug load.
The NDLEA says further updates will be disclosed as the multinational probe progresses.
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