The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has launched a high-profile international investigation in collaboration with the United States and the United Kingdom following the seizure of a massive consignment of cocaine valued at over ₦338 billion at the PTML Terminal of the Tin Can Island Port, Lagos.
According to a statement released by the Agency on Tuesday, operatives discovered 1,000 kilograms of the illicit substance concealed in an empty shipping container over the weekend.
The discovery was made after terminal operators raised an alarm, prompting a joint examination by the NDLEA and other port security agencies.
Subsequent laboratory analysis confirmed the substance to be cocaine, after which it was formally handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation.
Given the unprecedented scale of the seizure, NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), has directed immediate collaboration with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) to trace and dismantle the transnational drug cartel responsible for the shipment.
“The essence of collaborating with our international partners on this case is to ensure that no stone is left unturned,” Marwa stated. “Ultimately, we are determined to identify, track down, and bring to justice all the masterminds behind this massive consignment—wherever they may be across the globe.”
The joint operation underscores Nigeria’s strengthened commitment to international cooperation in combating the global drug trade and safeguarding its ports from criminal exploitation.
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