NDLEA, Customs intercept N2.2b worth of drugs at Tincan Port, arrest suspects

The collaborative effort of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA and the Nigerian Customs Service NCS at the Tincan Island Port has begun to yield results with the interception weekend of N2.2billion naira worth of hard drugs concealed in an imported container.

Two persons allegedly linked to the hard drugs importation had been taken into custody.

NDLEA Commander Tincan Island Port, Mitchell Ofoyeju said the chairman of the anti-narcotic agency, Brig-General Buba Marwa (rtd) described the interception as massive and commended both the NDLEA and NCS.

He said: “The operation, which took place on Friday, December 13, 2024, during a routine security examination of a container that originated from Montreal, Canada, destined for MIGFO bonded Terminal, Tincan Island Port, Lagos, has yielded unprecedented results.”

The NDLEA chairman, who described the drug seizure as massive, commended the NDLEA and Nigeria Customs Service personnel for their vigilance in detecting the illicit shipment.

Marwa appreciated the Nigeria Customs Comptroller Tincan Island Port Lagos, Dera Nnadi, for coordinating the drug bust with Mitchell, who provided logistics in conveying the suspicious container to the Customs Enforcement Unit for a 100 per cent examination.

“The joint coordination of the search operation by Dera and Mitchell culminated in the successful interception of the massive drug seizure and apprehension of the suspects.

“The clinical inspection jointly coordinated by the Nigeria Customs Service and NDLEA personnel revealed an astounding haul of narcotics. Officers recovered 44 extra-large bags containing cannabis indica, comprising 1,735 parcels with a total weight of 867.5 kilogrammes.

Additionally, six coolers were also found to contain 87 packs of methamphetamine, weighing 78.3 kilogrammes. In total, the seizure amounted to 945.8 kilogrammes of narcotics. The estimated value of the seized drugs is N2.2 billion.

“We are delighted with this seizure because it’s a product of teamwork. This could have caused a substantial threat to public safety save for the prompt interception,” Comptroller Dera.

The NDLEA Commander, Tincan Island Port Strategic Command, Ofoyeju Mitchell, expressed satisfaction with the discovery.

“This is the first time we are intercepting methamphetamine from Canada. The success represents substantial damage to the operations of the drug trafficking cartels.

“We will continue to collaborate with the Nigeria Customs Service and other stakeholders as we work tirelessly to protect our country from the dangers posed by drugs,” Mitchell stated.

This latest seizure represents one of the largest drug interceptions in recent years, further positioning the Tincan Island Port Strategic Command as a frontline defence against the influx of narcotics.

In the meantime, two suspects have been arrested in connection with the discovery as investigations continue to uncover the full extent of the drug trafficking operation.

They are Nwanolue Emeka and Friday Ogbe and would be charged to court at the end of investigation.