Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa. Credit: NDLEA

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has begun a joint investigation with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the United Kingdom National Crime Agency (NCA) to trace the cartel behind the importation of 1,000 kilograms of cocaine intercepted at the PTML Terminal, Tincan Island Port, Lagos.

This was revealed in a statement on Tuesday by NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, who said terminal operators discovered the drug-laden consignment in an empty container and promptly alerted the NDLEA and the Nigeria Customs Service for a joint examination.

“Field tests conducted by NDLEA officers confirmed the substance to be cocaine, after which the shipment was taken into custody on Tuesday, November 11, 2025,” the statement read.

According to Babafemi, the cocaine, valued at over $235 million (about ₦338 billion), is the largest single seizure of the drug ever recorded at Tincan Port.

He added that NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd.), directed that the DEA and NCA be brought into the investigation due to the international scope of the operation and the sophistication of the trafficking network.

“As a result of the large quantity of the recovered Class A drug and the global dimension to the cartel, Marwa directed that our leading international partners be involved in the investigation,” Babafemi stated.

Officers of the US DEA and UK NCA have since joined the NDLEA investigation team, working to identify and apprehend those responsible for the shipment.

The discovery came after close collaboration between NDLEA and the Nigeria Customs Service, following discussions between Brig. Gen. Marwa and Comptroller General of Customs Adewale Adeniyi.

Meanwhile, the NDLEA on Sunday announced the arrest of several suspects in drug-related offences, including a wanted drug baron, Yussuf Azeez, who was apprehended at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, while attempting to board a flight to Saudi Arabia for Umrah.

The agency described the ongoing investigation as one of the most significant in recent years, reaffirming its commitment to dismantling major international drug syndicates operating in and through Nigeria.