Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has launched a joint investigation with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) following the recovery of 1,000 kilograms of cocaine at the Tincan Island Port in Lagos.

According to the NDLEA, the large consignment, valued at more than ₦338 billion ($235 million), was discovered last weekend inside an empty container at the PTML Terminal of the port.

Terminal operators noticed the suspicious consignment and invited port stakeholders, including NDLEA, Customs and other security agencies, for a joint inspection.

A field test conducted by NDLEA officers confirmed the substance to be cocaine. The shipment was formally handed over to the agency for further investigation on Tuesday, 11 November 2025, following coordination between NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retired) and Comptroller General of Customs Dr Adewale Adeniyi.

Given the international scale of the seizure, the NDLEA sought the involvement of its global partners to ensure a comprehensive investigation.

In response, officers from the US-DEA and UK-NCA have already joined the ongoing operation, marking one of the largest collaborative drug investigations at the Lagos port.

Marwa stated that the purpose of the collaboration was to ensure that every aspect of the case was thoroughly examined so that all individuals involved in the cartel could be identified and brought to justice, regardless of their location.

NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi confirmed that this is the largest single seizure of cocaine ever recorded at Tincan Port.

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Nigeria remains a key transit point for drug trafficking in West Africa and is also becoming an important producer.

Reference: ndlea