The national drug watchdog has teamed up with global partners to trace the cartel behind the huge consignment

Nigeria's anti-narcotics agency has uncovered a mammoth 1,000kg cocaine haul in a shipping container at a port in Lagos, and says it is working with US and UK counterparts to identify the cartel behind the shipment.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said the drug, valued at over 338 billion naira (about $235 million), was found in an empty container at Tincan Island Port after operators raised suspicions and invited security agencies for a joint inspection.

It is the largest single cocaine seizure at Tincan Port, the agency said Tuesday, adding that the US Drug Enforcement Administration and Britain's National Crime Agency have agreed to join the investigation.

"The essence of collaborating with our international partners on this case is to ensure no stone is left unturned... so that... we can get all the masterminds of this huge consignment brought to book wherever they are located across the globe," NDLEA chief Mohamed Buba Marwa said.

The bust comes amid a series of recent large cocaine seizures in the West African country. Late last month, the Nigerian Customs Service reported two containers of vehicles used to conceal illicit drugs worth more than 5.3 billion naira ($3.69 million), which were handed to NDLEA for investigation. According to officials, the containers originated from Montreal, Canada, and held 78kg of Colorado Indica, 1.2kg of hashish oil, 1,093kg of cannabis indica, and 8kg of crystal meth, all concealed in eight vehicles.

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Earlier this year, the anti-narcotics agency said it had intercepted illicit substances valued at 134.2 billion naira and arrested 38 suspects in 2024. In 2022, NDLEA agents raided a warehouse at the Ikorodu area in Lagos and seized about 1.8 tonnes of cocaine, later burning the consignment after court orders.

(RT.com)