Nigeria, US and UK launch global probe into $235m drug haul at Lagos port, vowing to bring all masterminds to justice

NDLEA cocaine seizure investigations have taken an international turn as Nigeria’s anti-narcotics agency partners the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) to uncover the cartel behind the importation of 1,000 kilograms of cocaine recovered at the PTML Terminal, Tincan Island Port, Lagos.

Also read: NDLEA launches drug test and visa clearance portal

In a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja, NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said the collaboration aims to ensure that no stone is left unturned in tracing every link in the international drug syndicate.

According to Babafemi, the PTML terminal operators discovered the illicit consignment hidden in an empty container over the weekend and alerted port stakeholders, including NDLEA, Customs, and other security agencies, for a joint examination.

Following field tests, NDLEA operatives confirmed the substance as cocaine and took custody of the shipment for further investigation on 11 November.

The operation was the result of close coordination between NDLEA Chairman, Brigadier-General Buba Marwa (Retd.), and the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Dr Adewale Adeniyi, who jointly oversaw the handover and initial investigation phase.

Babafemi noted that the 1,000kg of Class A drugs was valued at over $235 million (₦338 billion) in the international market, describing it as the largest single cocaine seizure at the Tincan Port.

Marwa said the involvement of international partners such as the DEA and NCA underscores the global scale of the cartel’s operations and Nigeria’s determination to bring all perpetrators to justice, regardless of their location.

He explained that the alliance would help bridge intelligence gaps and guarantee a watertight investigation that would lead to the arrest and prosecution of the masterminds.

“The essence of collaborating with our international partners is to ensure no stone is left unturned and every gap is sufficiently covered. We will get all the masterminds of this consignment wherever they are across the globe,” Marwa stated.

Also read: NSCDC Kano arrests Indian hemp dealer, hands over to NDLEA

With the ongoing NDLEA cocaine seizure investigation now drawing global attention, authorities believe this coordinated effort could deliver a major blow to transnational drug trafficking networks operating through West Africa’s ports.