Date: May 13, 2026 l By Benson Kimberly
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a massive shipment of illicit drugs worth over ₦10.4 billion at the Tincan Island Port in Lagos, marking one of the agency’s biggest drug seizures in recent months. Authorities said the shipment consisted of 4,173.5 kilograms of “Canadian Loud,” a highly potent strain of cannabis allegedly smuggled into Nigeria through an international trafficking network.
According to the NDLEA, the operation followed months of intelligence gathering, surveillance, and international collaboration involving multiple law enforcement agencies. Officials revealed that the container carrying the drugs departed Toronto, Canada, on March 28 before being moved through several international transit points, including Montreal and Morocco, before finally arriving in Lagos on May 9.
The agency disclosed that operatives monitored the shipment for more than two months before carrying out the final interception during a joint inspection involving the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies.
NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, stated that the illegal substances were carefully concealed inside two vehicles — a used Ford bus and a Mercedes-Benz C300 — which were packed inside the shipping container to avoid detection.
The seizure comes only days after NDLEA operatives reportedly uncovered another large stash of the same psychoactive substance at a mansion in Lekki, Lagos. During that earlier raid, authorities recovered 2,326 kilograms of drugs packaged into about 4,000 parcels with an estimated street value exceeding ₦5.8 billion.
Speaking during the handover ceremony at the Lagos port, the NDLEA Director of Seaports Operations, Archie-Abia Ibinabo, described the successful interception as evidence of growing cooperation among Nigerian and international security agencies in combating transnational organized crime.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier General Mohamed Marwa (retd.), praised officers involved in the operation and warned international drug syndicates against using Nigerian ports as entry points for narcotics trafficking. He noted that the recent seizures indicate a coordinated effort by criminal networks attempting to flood Nigeria with synthetic cannabis products.
Marwa further emphasized that collaboration between the NDLEA, the Nigeria Customs Service, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, the United Kingdom Home Office International Operations, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police played a major role in tracking and intercepting the shipment.
Security analysts say the latest interception highlights increasing concerns over the sophistication of international drug trafficking operations targeting West Africa. The use of multiple transit points, container transfers, and concealed transportation methods reflects the evolving tactics of global smuggling syndicates seeking to bypass border security systems.