Massive 1,000kg drug haul sparks international probe at Tincan Port
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 trace the international cartel behind a massive 1,000-kilogram cocaine shipment discovered at the Tincan Island Port in Lagos.
According to a statement by the NDLEA’s Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the illicit consignment was uncovered at the PTML Terminal after port operators raised an alert over suspicious cargo found inside an empty container last weekend. A joint inspection involving NDLEA, Customs, and other security agencies confirmed the substance to be cocaine following field testing.
The agency said the seized drug, valued at over $235 million (₦338 billion) on the international market, marks one of the largest single recoveries in Nigeria’s history. The container and its contents were formally handed over to NDLEA officials on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, following collaborative engagements between NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), and Comptroller General of Customs, Dr. Adewale Adeniyi.
Given the magnitude of the discovery and its international dimensions, Marwa directed that the Agency’s foreign counterparts be brought into the probe. Officers from the US-DEA and UK-NCA have since joined NDLEA investigators in what is expected to become a global operation to identify and dismantle the network responsible.
The NDLEA assured that its investigators are working round the clock, in concert with international partners, to track the origin, routes, and financiers of the high-profile shipment.
“The essence of collaborating with our international partners on this case is to ensure no stone is left unturned and every gap 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,” Marwa said, emphasizing his close coordination with the Customs boss.
