NDLEA intercepts ₦10bn worth of cocaine, Loud, opioids in Lagos

NDLEA intercepts ₦10bn worth of cocaine, Loud, opioids in Lagos

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted illicit drugs valued at more than ₦10 billion in a series of coordinated operations at Lagos seaports and the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), dealing a significant blow to drug trafficking syndicates operating within and outside Nigeria.

The seizures, which included cocaine, Loud (a potent synthetic strain of cannabis), Tapentadol, tramadol and other controlled substances, were recorded during intelligence-led operations at the MMIA Cargo Terminal, Apapa Seaport and a courier company in Lagos.

The agency announced the development in a statement issued by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, who said the successful operations reflected the NDLEA’s intensified efforts to dismantle international drug trafficking networks using Nigeria’s ports and airports as transit routes.

A major breakthrough during the operation led to the arrest of a 55-year-old businessman accused of attempting to export 3.30 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed inside specially modified cartons of food items destined for the United Kingdom.

According to the NDLEA, the suspect, a clothing trader at Balogun Market on Lagos Island, was arrested after operatives intercepted the shipment at the export section of the Lagos airport. The investigation initially resulted in the arrest of three cargo agents linked to the consignment before another suspect who allegedly delivered the shipment was apprehended.

READ ALSO:

• Super Falcons recover stolen cash after hotel theft suspect confesses
• Accord Party, Governor Adeleke Adopt Tinubu as 2027 Presidential Candidate
• Obasanjo Brokered Obi-Kwankwaso Ticket, Remains Principal Sponsor – Akin Osuntokun

Babafemi said intelligence gathered from those arrests eventually led operatives to the alleged kingpin of the trafficking syndicate.

“His arrest provided the lead to identifying the kingpin behind the syndicate and his eventual arrest while attempting to send another consignment of cocaine to the UK,” the NDLEA spokesman said.

In another operation, NDLEA operatives arrested a 31-year-old entrepreneur at her residence in Surulere, Lagos, over the alleged importation of 2.80 kilogrammes of Loud, a highly potent synthetic strain of cannabis.

The drug consignment reportedly arrived from the United States aboard a United Airlines flight before being intercepted by NDLEA officers through intelligence-based screening. The agency said the investigation enabled officers to trace the shipment to the suspect, leading to her arrest.

The NDLEA also intercepted 2.2 million pills of Tapentadol 250mg, an opioid medication with an estimated street value of more than ₦2.2 billion.

According to the agency, the consignment arrived from India aboard an Air Maroc flight and was intercepted during a joint cargo examination following credible intelligence. Tapentadol is a prescription opioid used for pain management but is increasingly abused and illegally trafficked because of its addictive effects.

In a separate operation, NDLEA officers intercepted another shipment containing tramadol concealed inside containers of black soap meant for export to the United Kingdom.

The consignment was uncovered at a courier facility in Lagos after officers identified suspicious packaging during routine inspection and intelligence profiling. The agency said traffickers have continued to adopt sophisticated concealment methods in an attempt to evade security checks at airports and seaports.

At the Apapa Seaport, NDLEA operatives discovered 4,777 sachets of Canadian Loud concealed inside three imported vehicles.

The cannabis weighed 2,388.5 kilogrammes and had an estimated street value exceeding ₦7.1 billion, making it one of the agency’s largest recent seizures at the nation’s seaports. Officials said the drugs were uncovered during a joint examination involving the NDLEA and other government agencies responsible for cargo inspection.

The latest seizures underscore the NDLEA’s sustained offensive against local and transnational drug trafficking organisations. The agency said criminal syndicates continue to devise new methods of concealing narcotics in food items, vehicle compartments, courier packages and commercial goods, prompting authorities to strengthen intelligence gathering, cargo profiling and inter-agency collaboration.

NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd.), has repeatedly stated that the agency will continue targeting drug cartels while expanding its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, which focuses on prevention, rehabilitation, treatment and public awareness.

The anti-narcotics agency reaffirmed that all suspects arrested in connection with the latest operations would face prosecution under the NDLEA Act, while investigations continue to identify other members of the trafficking networks and trace proceeds generated from the illegal drug trade.

Security experts have described the seizures as another major success in Nigeria’s fight against organised crime, noting that disrupting narcotics supply chains also weakens criminal groups involved in money laundering, arms trafficking and other transnational offences.

The NDLEA urged Nigerians to continue providing credible intelligence to security agencies, stressing that public cooperation remains critical to the fight against illicit drug trafficking.

NDLEA intercepts ₦10bn worth of cocaine, Loud, opioids in Lagos