NDLEA,US, UK agencies launch joint probe after record $235m cocaine seizure in Lagos port

In a major international operation, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has launched a joint investigation with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) following the seizure of 1,000 kilogrammes of cocaine.

The illicit shipment, valued at over $235 million (approximately N338 billion), was intercepted at the PTML Terminal of the Tincan Island Port in Lagos.

The discovery was initiated by operators at the PTML Terminal, who found the drug consignment inside an empty container over the weekend.

They promptly alerted port stakeholders, leading to a joint inspection involving the NDLEA and the Nigeria Customs Service.

According to a statement by NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, field tests conducted by the agency’s officers confirmed the substance to be cocaine.

The shipment was subsequently taken into the NDLEA’s official custody on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, following collaborative efforts between NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.) and the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi.

Due to the enormous quantity of the seizure—the largest single cocaine bust at the Tincan Port—and the suspected global reach of the drug cartel involved, Chairman Marwa directed that international partners be brought into the investigation.

“The officers of the US DEA and UK NCA have already joined the ongoing investigation,” Babafemi confirmed, highlighting the swift international response.

In a related development, the NDLEA announced the arrest of several suspects linked to drug offences, including a wanted drug baron, Yussuf Azeez. The 40-year-old was apprehended at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Thursday, November 6, while attempting to board a flight to Saudi Arabia.

The agency also reported significant achievements over the past 30 months, citing the seizure of 8.5 million kilogrammes of drugs, the arrest of 45,853 suspects, and 9,263 successful convictions.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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