$235 Million Cocaine Seizure at Lagos Port Sparks Nigeria, US, UK Investigation
Nigeria’s anti-drug agency, the NDLEA, is teaming up with the United States and the United Kingdom to investigate a huge cocaine seizure at the Tincan Port in Lagos.
The NDLEA said more than 1,000 kilograms of cocaine, worth about $235 million, were discovered in an empty container last weekend. The drugs were later handed over to the agency for further investigation.
According to NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, officers from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.K. National Crime Agency are already in Nigeria to help uncover the cartel behind the shipment.
The agency described the find as one of the biggest single drug seizures in Nigeria’s history. NDLEA Chairman, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa, said the collaboration with international partners will help ensure all those involved are brought to justice, no matter where they are hiding.
He added that the NDLEA will leave “no stone unturned” in tracking the masterminds of the crime.
Nigeria has long been seen as a key transit route for narcotics in West Africa, and reports from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime suggest the country is also becoming a growing producer.
The NDLEA says this latest operation shows its strong commitment to fighting drug trafficking and protecting Nigeria’s borders.
