ABUJA, Nigeria — The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a massive consignment of illicit drugs with an estimated street value exceeding ₦10 billion at the Apapa Seaport in Lagos, marking one of the agency’s most significant anti-narcotics operations in recent months.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, operatives recovered 4,777 sachets of Canadian Loud, a highly potent strain of cannabis, with an estimated street value of more than ₦7.1 billion. The illicit consignment weighed approximately 2,388.5 kilogrammes and was cleverly concealed inside three imported vehicles in an apparent attempt to evade detection during customs clearance.
Babafemi disclosed that the seizure was made during a joint cargo examination conducted on Monday by NDLEA operatives alongside other security and port regulatory agencies. He explained that intelligence-led surveillance and coordinated inspection procedures led to the discovery of the concealed narcotics before they could be smuggled into the Nigerian market.
The agency said the interception highlights the growing sophistication of transnational drug trafficking networks, which continue to adopt new concealment methods in a bid to bypass security checks at the nation’s ports and borders. NDLEA officials noted that the successful operation demonstrates the effectiveness of enhanced collaboration among security agencies in combating the illicit drug trade.
Beyond the Canadian Loud seizure, the agency revealed that additional narcotics recovered during separate operations across the country pushed the cumulative street value of intercepted illicit substances to more than ₦10 billion. NDLEA reiterated that the operations form part of its intensified nationwide campaign to dismantle drug trafficking syndicates, reduce the availability of illicit substances, and safeguard public health and national security.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd.), commended the officers involved in the operation for their professionalism and vigilance. He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to sustaining aggressive enforcement actions against drug traffickers while strengthening intelligence gathering, inter-agency cooperation, and public awareness initiatives aimed at curbing drug abuse and organised crime.
The agency also warned criminal organisations that Nigerian law enforcement authorities remain determined to frustrate attempts to use the country’s ports, airports, and land borders as transit routes for illegal drugs. NDLEA urged members of the public to continue providing credible information that could assist security agencies in identifying and dismantling drug trafficking networks operating across the country.
