The Nationwide Drug Legislation Enforcement Company (NDLEA) has commenced a joint investigation with the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the UK Nationwide Crime Company (NCA) following the interception of 1,000 kilograms of cocaine on the PTML Terminal, Tincan Island Port, Lagos.
In keeping with an announcement by Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy at NDLEA Headquarters, the consignment was found after PTML terminal operators observed suspicious packages in an empty container and alerted port stakeholders.
A joint examination was carried out with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Police Anti-Bomb Squad, Division of State Providers (DSS), and different safety businesses. NDLEA’s discipline check later confirmed the substance as cocaine.
The seizure, formally transferred to NDLEA custody on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, is valued at over $235 million (about N338 billion) within the worldwide market.
Nairametrics had earlier reported that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), PTML Command, introduced the interception of the cocaine cargo valued at N29.4 billion, marking one of the vital important drug seizures in its historical past.
Controller of the PTML Command, Comptroller Joe Anani, mentioned the suspicious container, numbered GCNU1332851, was considered one of 39 empty containers imported from Freetown, Sierra Leone, and found throughout a routine disinfection train on October 7.
“This incident is among the most mysterious cocaine interceptions within the historical past of the Service,” Anani mentioned.
He added that no arrests had been made but, because the container had no identifiable proprietor or documentation linking it to any consignee.
Following the affirmation of the substance, NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), directed that the company’s main worldwide companions be concerned within the investigation because of the international scale of the cartel behind the cargo.
Marwa mentioned this determination adopted direct coordination between him and the Comptroller-Normal of Customs, Dr. Adewale Adeniyi, to make sure all safety businesses work in sync on the case.
In response, officers of the US-DEA and UK-NCA have joined the continuing probe into what has been described as the most important single cocaine seizure ever recorded at Tincan Port.
“The essence of collaborating with our worldwide companions on this case is to make sure no stone is left unturned and each hole is sufficiently lined in order that finally we will get all of the masterminds of this enormous consignment delivered to e-book wherever they’re positioned throughout the globe. This adopted private wonderful engagement between me and the Customs CG on this case,” Marwa acknowledged.
Final weekend, NDLEA arrested 40-year-old Yussuf Abayomi Azeez, a wished UK fugitive, at Murtala Mohammed Worldwide Airport, Lagos. Azeez, who had been beneath surveillance for months, was nabbed whereas trying to journey to Saudi Arabia for Umrah.
On the Sifax bonded terminal in Okota, a joint operation with Customs uncovered 105.5 kilograms of Molly and 500 grams of methamphetamine on Friday, November 7.
