Confirming the interception of a sizable cocaine shipment worth N29.4 billion at the Port and Terminal Multiservices Limited (PTML) Command in Lagos, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) referred to it as one of the most amazing anti-drug campaigns in its history.
The head of the PTML Command, Comptroller Joe Anani, revealed the find on Tuesday at a media briefing after a tip-off from the terminal operator. During a regular sterilization operation on October 7, the suspicious packages were found; therefore, Customs personnel quickly opened an inquiry.
According to Anani, originally destined for export loading, the container numbered GCNU1332851 was among 39 empty containers transported from Freetown, Sierra Leone. Suspicion resulting from a lack of adequate records of ownership led to a joint examination involving the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Department of State Services (DSS), the Police Anti-Bomb Squad, and other security teams.
Following a thorough investigation, police found 50 packages with 20 parcels each of white powdery substances that lab tests later verified to be cocaine. With a duty-paid value of N29.4 billion, the total weight was projected at one metric ton.
The News Chronicle gathered that no arrest has been made yet as investigators continue to trace the ownership of the shipment and its possible link to international trafficking networks. A Customs source disclosed that the absence of shipping documents and consignee information made the case highly complex, suggesting possible attempts to disguise the cargo’s origin.
Noting that such cooperation was vital for a successful interception, Comptroller Anani praised the quick response of the PTML terminal operator and the teamwork among several security organizations. He reiterated that the confiscation shows the agency’s alertness and its strong dedication to safeguarding Nigerian ports from unlawful commerce.
For more investigation and prosecution, the seized cocaine will be formally delivered to the NDLEA. Weeks after the Tin Can Island Command intercepted two containers of imported cars containing hard narcotics valued at over N5 billion, this most recent seizure strengthens Customs’ commitment to safeguard Nigeria’s maritime borders and improve inter-agency intelligence exchange.
