NDLEA Seizes Large Drug Consignment at Tincan Port
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has intercepted 4,173.5 kilogrammes of Canadian Loud, a strong strain of cannabis, at the Tincan Island Port in Lagos.
The seized drugs carry an estimated street value of ₦10.43 billion.
The agency disclosed the development in a statement issued on Wednesday by its spokesperson, Femi Babafemi.
According to the statement, the container arrived at the Lagos port on May 9 after operatives tracked it for more than two months.
NDLEA Tracks Shipment From Canada
Babafemi explained that the shipment originated from Toronto, Canada, on March 28 before passing through several international transit points.
The cargo first moved by rail to Montreal before officials loaded it onto a vessel named Jakarta Express.
The vessel later arrived at Tanger Med Port in Morocco on April 15.
Afterward, handlers transferred the container to another vessel, Osaka Voyage, which eventually delivered it to Lagos.
The NDLEA said intelligence officers closely monitored the shipment throughout the journey.
Drugs Hidden Inside Vehicles
Investigators discovered the illicit substances hidden inside two vehicles packed in the container.
The drugs were concealed inside a used Ford bus and a Mercedes-Benz C300 car.
Furthermore, NDLEA operatives carried out the seizure during a joint inspection involving the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies.
The operation followed coordinated intelligence gathering and surveillance efforts by the agency’s Marine Intelligence Unit and the Tincan Island Strategic Command.
International Agencies Supported Operation
In addition, the NDLEA worked with international security partners during the operation.
The agency confirmed collaboration with the United Kingdom Home Office International Operations, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Officials said the partnership strengthened efforts to track and intercept the shipment before distribution.
Seizure Comes Days After Lekki Raid
Meanwhile, the latest seizure came only four days after NDLEA operatives uncovered another major drug stash in Lekki, Lagos.
During that operation, officers recovered 4,000 parcels of the same psychoactive substance weighing 2,326 kilogrammes.
Authorities valued the recovered drugs at over ₦5.8 billion.
Marwa Warns International Drug Syndicates
Reacting to the latest interception, NDLEA Chairman, Mohamed Marwa, praised officers involved in the operation.
He commended the Tincan Command and the Marine Intelligence Unit for their professionalism and dedication.
Marwa stated that the repeated seizures exposed attempts by international drug syndicates to flood Nigeria with synthetic cannabis products.
“This massive seizure sends a strong warning to criminal networks using Nigerian ports for illegal drug trafficking,” he said.
He also stressed that the agency would continue working with local and international partners to dismantle every link in the supply chain.
