The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) confirmed it is working with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) to trace the cartel behind a 1,000-kilogramme cocaine shipment worth over $235 million (₦338 billion) intercepted at the PTML Terminal, Tin Can Island Port, Lagos.
In a statement on Tuesday, NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi said port operators discovered the suspicious consignment in an empty container and immediately alerted security agencies, including NDLEA and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
Following a joint inspection, field tests confirmed the substance as cocaine, prompting NDLEA operatives to seize the cargo on November 11, 2025.
Babafemi stated, “The NDLEA is working with the US DEA and UK NCA to unravel the cartel behind the importation of 1,000 kilogrammes of cocaine recovered from a container at the PTML Terminal of Tin Can Island Port in Lagos.
“The PTML operators noticed the consignment in an empty container and invited stakeholders, including NDLEA and Customs, for a joint examination. After a field test confirmed the shipment to be cocaine, it was formally transferred to NDLEA custody for further investigation.”
According to the agency, this is the largest single seizure of cocaine ever recorded at the Tin Can Island Port.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), said the international collaboration was necessary due to the scale and sophistication of the trafficking network.
“As a result of the large quantity of the recovered Class A drug, and the global dimension of the cocaine cartel, officers of the US DEA and UK NCA have already joined the ongoing investigation,” the statement added.
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