Ogona Anita
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has uncovered the cartel behind the importation of 1,000 kilograms of cocaine recovered from a container at the PTML Terminal of Tincan Island Port, Lagos.
According to the agency, the discovery was made possible through its collaboration with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the United Kingdom National Crime Agency (NCA).
This was contained in a statement issued by Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy at the NDLEA Headquarters in Abuja.
Babafemi explained that operators at the PTML Terminal had discovered the consignment in an empty container last weekend and immediately invited port stakeholders, including NDLEA, Customs, and other security agencies, for a joint examination.
Following a field test conducted by NDLEA officials, the shipment was confirmed to be cocaine. The consignment was subsequently transferred to NDLEA custody for further investigation on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, after a collaborative engagement between the NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), and the Comptroller General of Customs, Dr. Adewale Adeniyi.
Due to the massive quantity of the drug, valued at over $235 million (approximately ₦338 billion) in the international market, and the international nature of the cartel involved, Marwa directed that NDLEA’s global partners participate in the investigation.
Responding swiftly to the request, officers of the US DEA and UK NCA have joined the ongoing probe into what is described as the largest single cocaine seizure at the Tincan Port in Lagos.
Marwa, while reacting to the development, said the collaboration aims to ensure that every aspect of the investigation is thoroughly handled to bring all those responsible to justice, regardless of their location.
“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. This followed personal excellent engagement between myself and the Customs CG on this case,” Marwa stated
