The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has launched a joint investigation with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the United Kingdom National Crime Agency (NCA) to dismantle an international drug cartel responsible for importing over 1,000 kilogrammes of cocaine recently intercepted at the PTML Terminal, Tincan Island Port, Lagos.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, the illicit consignment was discovered by port operators in an empty container last weekend. The operators immediately alerted key stakeholders — including the NDLEA, Nigeria Customs Service, and other security agencies — for a joint examination.
A subsequent field test conducted by NDLEA operatives confirmed the substance to be cocaine, prompting the formal handover of the consignment to the agency for detailed investigation. The transfer followed high-level consultations between NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd), and Comptroller General of Customs, Dr. Adewale Adeniyi.
Babafemi noted that the recovered drugs, valued at over $235 million (₦338 billion) on the international market, represent one of the largest single seizures of cocaine in Nigeria’s history. Given the global scale of the operation, Marwa ordered the immediate involvement of NDLEA’s international partners.
In response, officers from both the US DEA and UK NCA have joined the ongoing probe to trace the origin, network, and masterminds of the transnational cartel.
Marwa emphasized the importance of international cooperation in dismantling the syndicate, stating: “The essence of collaborating with our international partners is to ensure no stone is left unturned and every gap is covered so that all masterminds behind this massive consignment are brought to justice, wherever they may be in the world.”
He added that the close coordination between NDLEA and the Nigeria Customs Service reflects the renewed synergy among Nigeria’s frontline law enforcement agencies in tackling narcotics trafficking and organized crime.
