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 uncover the cartel behind the importation of 1,000 kilograms of cocaine found at the PTML Terminal of Tincan Island Port in Lagos.
The cocaine was discovered last weekend by PTML operators inside an empty container. They immediately notified port authorities, including the NDLEA, Customs, and other security agencies, for a joint inspection. NDLEA field tests confirmed the substance was cocaine.
The consignment was officially handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, following coordination between NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), and the Comptroller General of Customs, Dr. Adewale Adeniyi.
Valued at over $235 million (about N338 billion), the seizure is one of the largest single cocaine recoveries ever made at Tincan Port.
Given the international scale of the operation, Marwa directed that the NDLEA’s key foreign partners the US DEA and UK NCA join the investigation.
In response, officers from both agencies have already begun working with NDLEA investigators. Marwa said the collaboration aims to ensure that all those involved in the massive drug trafficking network are identified and brought to justice, no matter where they are.
