NDLEA ANNOUNCES MORE THAN ₦5 BILLION IN DRUG SEIZURES AT NIGERIAN PORTS
Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has announced the interception of drug consignments worth more than ₦5 billion in a series of operations involving Lagos and Onne ports. The largest seizure involved 2,595 parcels of Canadian Loud weighing 1,297.5 kilograms at Tincan Island Port in Lagos. At Onne Port in Rivers State, officers recovered Loud and 109,600 bottles of codeine based cough syrup weighing 16,440 kilograms. Separately, the agency says a 38 year old businessman was arrested at Murtala Muhammed International Airport while allegedly attempting to travel to Milan with 4.80 kilograms of cocaine. The announcement was issued on Sunday, October 4, but the individual operations occurred on different dates.
Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has announced a series of drug interceptions worth more than ₦5 billion across major ports and other locations in the country.
The fresh enforcement statement, issued on Sunday, October 4, covers several operations carried out on different dates in Lagos, Rivers State and other parts of Nigeria.
The agency says the seizures form part of an intelligence driven campaign targeting drug trafficking networks and illicit consignments entering and moving through the country.
TINCAN PORT SEIZURE VALUED AT MORE THAN ₦3.8 BILLION
One of the largest interceptions took place at Tincan Island Port in Lagos.
NDLEA says officers conducted a joint examination of a watch listed container from Montreal, Canada, on September 29.
Inside the container, officers found 2,595 parcels of Canadian Loud weighing 1,297.5 kilograms.
The agency says the drugs were concealed inside a Toyota Sienna and a Hyundai Elantra, along with 24 blue drums and six jumbo bags.
NDLEA placed the street value of the consignment at more than ₦3.8 billion.
CONTAINER HAD ARRIVED FROM CANADA
The agency says the container was shipped from Montreal, Canada.
NDLEA says the shipment had been placed on a watchlist following intelligence gathering.
The operation was carried out jointly with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies.
Authorities have not yet publicly identified all those suspected of being connected to the shipment.
ONNE PORT OPERATION UNCOVERS LOUD AND CODEINE
Another major interception occurred at Onne Port in Rivers State.
NDLEA says two containers on its watchlist were subjected to joint examination with Customs and other security agencies.
In one container, officers recovered 40 packs of Loud weighing 22 kilograms.
The drugs were reportedly hidden inside a travelling bag and three vehicles.
109,600 BOTTLES OF CODEINE RECOVERED
The second container contained 109,600 bottles of codeine based cough syrup.
NDLEA says the shipment weighed 16,440 kilograms.
The agency placed the combined street value of the Loud and codeine consignments recovered at Onne at approximately ₦833.2 million.
NDLEA SAYS SHIPPING HISTORY WAS ALTERED
According to the agency, the container carrying the codeine originated from India and passed through Saudi Arabia.
NDLEA alleges that the shipment history was altered in an attempt to disguise its origin.
That claim comes from the agency and forms part of its ongoing investigation.
APAPA PORT SEIZURE ALSO ANNOUNCED
At Apapa Port in Lagos, NDLEA officers also intercepted another shipment of cannabis.
The agency says 161 parcels of Thai Loud weighing 124 kilograms were recovered.
The drugs were reportedly concealed inside two refrigerators and two cartons.
NDLEA valued that consignment at approximately ₦372 million.
MILAN BOUND BUSINESSMAN ARRESTED AT LAGOS AIRPORT
Separately, NDLEA says it arrested a 38 year old businessman, identified as Philip Tunde, at Murtala Muhammed International Airport.
The arrest took place on September 27.
According to the agency, the suspect was preparing to board a Royal Air Maroc flight to Milan, Italy.
COCAINE ALLEGEDLY HIDDEN IN SHOES AND BAGS
NDLEA says officers recovered a total of 4.80 kilograms of cocaine during the search.
Sixteen parcels were allegedly concealed in the soles of eight pairs of trainers and canvas shoes.
Another 195 wraps were allegedly hidden in the railings of four travelling bags.
The suspect has not been convicted and the allegations remain subject to investigation and possible court proceedings.
SUSPECT ALLEGEDLY TOLD INVESTIGATORS HE BOUGHT PART OF CONSIGNMENT
NDLEA says the suspect told investigators that he paid ₦16 million for part of the cocaine.
The agency says he claimed the money came from compensation he received after suffering an injury while working at a plastics company in Italy.
That account has not been independently verified and remains part of the agency’s investigation.
OPERATIONS EXTENDED BEYOND PORTS
The October 4 statement also detailed seizures and arrests in several other states.
In Osun State, NDLEA says officers destroyed more than 20,000 kilograms of skunk cultivated on a cannabis farm in Ife South Local Government Area.
The farm covered more than eight hectares.
TRAMADOL RECOVERED IN LAGOS
In Lagos, the agency says officers recovered 209,000 tablets of tramadol from an unoccupied compound in Ago Palace.
A follow up operation later led to an arrest at Ladipo Spare Parts Market.
The agency also reported smaller quantities of synthetic cannabis and methamphetamine in related operations.
METHAMPHETAMINE INTERCEPTED IN KOGI
In Kogi State, NDLEA officers say they intercepted a Lagos Abuja commuter bus along the Okene Lokoja highway.
The agency says officers recovered one kilogram of methamphetamine.
A follow up operation later led to the arrest of a person suspected of owning the consignment in Abuja.
ARRESTS ALSO MADE IN PLATEAU AND EDO
In Plateau State, officers arrested a suspect after recovering 33 bags of skunk weighing 385 kilograms.
In Edo State, NDLEA says officers recovered cannabis, Loud, methamphetamine, tramadol and other substances during separate raids.
All suspects are entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty in court.
FUGITIVE ARRESTED SIX YEARS AFTER JUMPING BAIL
NDLEA also says it arrested a 47 year old man who allegedly jumped bail six years ago in a drug trafficking case.
The agency says the original case was before the Federal High Court in Jos.
Further details about the status of that case have not yet been released.
NDLEA SAYS OPERATIONS WERE INTELLIGENCE DRIVEN
The agency says several of the port interceptions followed months of intelligence gathering and surveillance.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Buba Marwa praised officers involved in the operations.
He urged commands across the country to continue targeting trafficking networks while also maintaining prevention and public education campaigns.
PORTS REMAIN KEY DRUG TRAFFICKING ROUTES
Nigeria’s seaports and airports remain major focus points for narcotics enforcement.
Traffickers often attempt to conceal illicit substances inside vehicles, commercial goods, luggage and other shipments.
Authorities regularly conduct joint inspections involving NDLEA, Customs and other agencies.
CANADIAN LOUD HAS APPEARED IN SEVERAL RECENT SEIZURES
Canadian Loud, a high potency cannabis strain, has appeared repeatedly in recent NDLEA interceptions.
Earlier in 2026, the agency announced other large seizures of the substance at Lagos ports.
That pattern suggests traffickers continue to use international shipping routes to move large cannabis consignments into Nigeria.
CODEINE TRAFFICKING REMAINS A MAJOR CONCERN
Codeine based cough syrup is also frequently targeted by Nigerian drug enforcement authorities.
Nigeria has imposed restrictions on codeine containing cough syrups because of widespread misuse.
Large consignments are therefore treated as serious enforcement matters.
STREET VALUE DOES NOT REPRESENT ACTUAL CASH RECOVERED
The more than ₦5 billion figure represents NDLEA’s estimated street value of the intercepted drugs.
It does not mean the agency physically recovered ₦5 billion in cash.
Street value calculations are estimates based on what the agency says the substances could have been worth if sold illegally.
WHAT IS CONFIRMED
NDLEA announced the operations on October 4.
The Tincan Island operation involved 2,595 parcels of Canadian Loud weighing 1,297.5 kilograms.
The Onne operation involved 22 kilograms of Loud and 109,600 bottles of codeine based cough syrup.
A 38 year old businessman was arrested at Lagos airport with what NDLEA says was 4.80 kilograms of cocaine.
IMPORTANT TIMING CLARIFICATION
The enforcement announcement is new, but the individual operations did not all occur on October 4.
Some took place on September 27 and September 29.
The October 4 statement therefore represents a consolidated update covering multiple operations.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
NDLEA is expected to continue investigations into the individuals and networks allegedly connected to the intercepted shipments.
Suspects may be charged in court where prosecutors believe sufficient evidence exists.
The agency is also expected to continue monitoring ports, airports and interstate transport routes as part of its wider anti narcotics campaign.
