The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) is working with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) to investigate the cartel responsible for the importation of 1,000 kilograms of cocaine seized at the PTML Terminal of Tincan Island Port in Lagos.
Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy at NDLEA Headquarters in Abuja, disclosed the development in a statement on Tuesday.
He explained that PTML operators had discovered the consignment in an empty container over the weekend and invited port stakeholders—including NDLEA, Customs, and other security agencies—for a joint inspection.
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Following a field test by NDLEA, which confirmed the consignment as cocaine, the shipment was formally transferred to NDLEA custody on Tuesday for further investigation.
Babafemi noted that the transfer followed coordinated efforts between NDLEA Chairman/CEO Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) and Comptroller General of Customs, Dr. Adewale Adeniyi.
The statement reads, “As a result of the large quantity of the recovered Class A drug, which is worth over $235million (Over N338 billion) in the international market and the global dimension to the cocaine cartel, Marwa on Tuesday, 11 November, directed that the Agency’s leading international partners be involved in the investigation.
“In a swift response to the Agency’s request, officers of the US-DEA and UK-NCA have already joined the ongoing investigation of the largest single seizure of cocaine at the Tincan Port, Lagos.”
Reacting to the seizure and ongoing investigation, Marwa said, “The essence of collaborating with our international partners on this case is to ensure no stone is left unturned and every gap is sufficiently covered so that ultimately we can get all the masterminds of this huge consignment brought to book wherever they are located across the globe. This followed personal excellent engagement between me and the Customs CG on this case.”