Nigerian Customs Makes Historic ₦29.4 Billion Cocaine Seizure in Lagos Port
LAGOS, NIGERIA – In a major victory against international drug trafficking, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted one tonne of cocaine with a street value of over $20 million (₦29.4 billion) at the Port and Terminal Multiservices Limited (PTML) in Lagos.
The discovery, one of the largest single seizures in recent history, was unveiled to the press on Tuesday by Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Joe Sanni.
The operation was initiated by the vigilance of a PTML terminal operator during a routine disinfection exercise. The operator identified suspicious contents inside a 20-foot shipping container that had arrived from Freetown, Sierra Leone, officially listed as empty. The container was part of a batch of 39 empties slated for future export.
Upon receiving the alert, the NCS coordinated a joint examination with key security agencies, including the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Police Anti-Bomb Squad.
The examination revealed 50 large packages, each containing 20 parcels of a white powdery substance. Subsequent rapid testing confirmed the substance to be cocaine, with a total gross weight of 1,000 kilograms.
Comptroller Sanni highlighted the sophisticated and unusual nature of the smuggling attempt.
“This is one of the most mysterious cocaine interceptions in the Service’s history,” Sanni stated. “The container did not officially arrive in Nigeria as a legitimate import and had no consignee linked to it, indicating a deliberate attempt to use our port as a transit hub for illicit goods.”
While no arrests have been made in connection with the container, Comptroller Sanni praised the collaborative effort that led to the seizure.
“This success is a testament to the effectiveness of inter-agency cooperation and the vigilance of our port operators,” he said. “It sends a clear message that the PTML Command and indeed all Nigerian ports are a no-go area for criminal elements.”
The Nigeria Customs Service has confirmed that the seized narcotics will be handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation and prosecution.
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