Customs Uncovers ₦29.4 Billion Cocaine Cargo At Lagos Port, Sparks Joint Nigeria, US, And UK Manhunt For Drug Syndicate

 

A historic drug interception at the Port and Terminal Multiservices Limited (PTML) in Lagos has revealed a massive cocaine consignment valued at ₦29.4 billion, described as one of Nigeria’s most mysterious maritime drug busts. The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) discovered the illicit cargo concealed within an empty container that arrived from Freetown, Sierra Leone, and promptly handed it over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for a full-scale investigation.

PTML Area Controller, Comptroller Joe Anani, disclosed the details to journalists, noting that the seizure followed a quick alert from the terminal operator during a disinfection exercise. Suspicious packages were found inside one of 39 containers that were supposedly empty and meant for export use. The alert led to a joint examination conducted by officers of the NCS, NDLEA, Department of State Services (DSS), Police Anti-Bomb Squad, and other security agencies.

According to Anani, the 20-foot container, marked GCNU1332851, contained 50 packages, each holding 20 parcels of cocaine, totaling 1,000 kilograms. Rapid field testing confirmed the substance, which was assigned a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦29,403,738,000. The customs chief emphasized that the container did not enter Nigeria as a declared import but was among empty containers repositioned for export operations, making the origin and ownership of the drug shipment particularly puzzling.

He described the interception as one of the most baffling cases ever encountered by the Customs Service, stressing that there was no consignee or importer linked to the cargo and no arrest had been made so far. Anani praised the vigilance of the PTML terminal operator and the collaboration among various security agencies that made the discovery possible. He reaffirmed Customs’ commitment to protecting Nigerian ports from being exploited for illicit trade, noting that the seizure highlighted the value of cooperation and swift communication between agencies.

Following the handover, NDLEA confirmed it had launched an international investigation in partnership with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the United Kingdom National Crime Agency (NCA). NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, revealed that the cocaine’s estimated international market value stands at over $235 million, approximately ₦338 billion, making it the largest single seizure at Lagos’ Tincan Island Port.

Babafemi stated that NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), directed the inclusion of international partners due to the shipment’s global implications. Agents from the DEA and NCA have already joined Nigerian authorities to trace the network responsible for the trafficking operation.

Marwa commended the Customs Service and other collaborating agencies for their vigilance, calling the operation a model example of effective inter-agency synergy. He stressed that the cooperation with international partners is vital to ensure every individual involved in the trafficking network is tracked and prosecuted, regardless of their location.

“This seizure demonstrates the strength of our collective resolve against drug cartels exploiting global maritime routes. Every link in this chain will be uncovered and brought to justice,” Marwa affirmed.

The unprecedented interception not only underscores Nigeria’s heightened vigilance at its ports but also signals a new level of global cooperation in dismantling transnational drug trafficking networks.