NDLEA, Customs Intercept ₦10.4bn Cannabis Shipment at Tin Can Port

By Adebola Isimijola, Lagos

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service, have intercepted a major transnational drug trafficking attempt at the Tin Can Island Port, Lagos, seizing 4,173.5 kilograms of Cannabis Indica valued at approximately ₦10.4 billion.

The illicit consignment was uncovered during a joint container examination at the port, in what security agencies described as a significant breakthrough against an international drug trafficking network operating through maritime routes.

Officials said the drugs were carefully concealed within a shipping container in an attempt to evade detection, but were intercepted following coordinated surveillance and intelligence-led operations.

Speaking at the formal handover of the seized substance, Assistant Commander-General of Narcotics, Archieabia Ibinabo Ogboba of the NDLEA, said the operation was the result of months of sustained intelligence gathering and monitoring.

According to him, “the container had been placed under surveillance for over two months before operatives moved in for the interception,” noting that the breakthrough underscored the effectiveness of intelligence-driven enforcement.

Investigations revealed that the shipment originated from Toronto, Canada, and moved through Montreal before being transported via truck and rail to Tanger Med Port, from where it was shipped to Nigeria.

The container reportedly arrived in Lagos on May 9, 2026, before it was flagged for enhanced surveillance that ultimately led to its interception.

Ogboba disclosed that the operation benefited from international intelligence collaboration involving the United States Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), alongside Nigerian security agencies.

He said the seizure further highlights the increasing sophistication of global drug trafficking syndicates exploiting maritime corridors to move illicit substances across borders.

“The level of coordination among these criminal networks underscores the need for sustained inter-agency and international collaboration,” he added.

The NDLEA official also commended the Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigerian Ports Authority, and other port stakeholders for their roles in the successful operation.

Authorities confirmed that the seized substance has been transferred to NDLEA custody for forensic analysis and prosecution.

The agency further noted that the latest interception follows earlier seizures of 4,729 kilograms of cannabis on April 27 and an additional 610.5 kilograms on April 30.

Reaffirming its anti-narcotics campaign, the NDLEA, under the leadership of Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd), said it remains committed to dismantling drug trafficking networks and preventing Nigerian ports from being used as transit hubs for illicit drugs.