Customs Seizes ₦29.4 Billion Worth of Cocaine Shipment in Lagos

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced a major drug interception at the Port and Terminal Multiservices Limited (PTML) in Lagos, uncovering a massive consignment of cocaine valued at ₦29.4 billion. The illicit cargo, weighing one metric tonne, was discovered hidden inside an ostensibly empty 20-foot container traced to Sierra Leone.

According to the PTML Area Controller, Comptroller Joe Anani, the discovery was made after terminal operators flagged unusual packages during a standard inspection of empty containers. A joint security operation involving the Customs, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Department of State Services (DSS), and the Police Anti-Bomb Squad later confirmed the suspicious packages contained cocaine.

The shipment, which reportedly lacked identifiable ownership or consignee details, has been described as one of the most complex drug concealments ever detected in Nigeria’s port system. “This seizure reflects the effectiveness of inter-agency collaboration and the vigilance of our officers,” Anani said, noting that the Customs Service remains committed to maintaining zero tolerance for narcotics at all entry points.

The NDLEA has taken custody of the intercepted drugs and initiated a comprehensive international investigation in partnership with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the United Kingdom National Crime Agency (NCA).

NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi stated that the agency’s chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), has ordered a global manhunt for the syndicate behind the cocaine haul, estimated to be worth over $235 million on the international market. Marwa emphasized that international collaboration was crucial in dismantling the network responsible for the illicit trade.

The development marks one of Nigeria’s largest maritime drug seizures in recent history and highlights renewed cooperation between the nation’s security agencies and global anti-narcotics partners.