The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) announced a joint probe with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.K. National Crime Agency after about 1,000 kg of cocaine valued at roughly N338 billion on the international market was discovered in an empty container at the PTML terminal of Tincan Island Port in Lagos.
Port operators alerted authorities over the weekend, and field tests confirmed the substance as cocaine; the haul was placed under NDLEA custody on 11 November 2025 for further analysis.
NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) requested international assistance because of the shipment’s size and the suspected transnational cartel behind it. Officers from the DEA and NCA have joined the investigation, which is being coordinated with the Comptroller General of Customs, Dr Adewale Adeniyi, to trace the network’s financial and logistical channels.
NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi said the collaboration will leave “no stone unturned” and aim to bring every mastermind to justice, regardless of location. The agencies pledged to share intelligence, pursue all leads, and dismantle the supply chain that delivered the narcotics to Nigeria’s shores.
