NDLEA Intercepts ₦5bn Drug Consignments At Lagos, Onne Ports, Arrests Milan-Bound Cocaine Suspect
By Dim Oba, LAGOS – The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted illicit drug consignments valued at more than ₦5 billion at the Lagos and Onne ports, while arresting a businessman allegedly attempting to smuggle 4.80 kilogrammes of cocaine to Milan, Italy.
The agency disclosed that the seizures were made during intelligence-led operations targeting drug trafficking networks using Nigeria’s seaports and international travel routes to move illicit substances across borders.
The interceptions at the Lagos and Onne ports underscore the agency’s ongoing efforts to prevent drug traffickers from using the country’s maritime corridors to transport prohibited substances.
The NDLEA said its operatives had intensified surveillance, cargo inspections and intelligence gathering to identify suspicious consignments and disrupt international drug trafficking operations.
In a related operation, a businessman was arrested over an alleged attempt to export 4.80 kilogrammes of cocaine to Milan, Italy.
The suspect was reportedly intercepted during efforts to move the illicit substance out of Nigeria. The agency is expected to pursue further investigations to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged offence and identify any other individuals connected to the operation.
The NDLEA has continued to warn drug traffickers and their collaborators that Nigeria’s ports, airports and land borders are under increased scrutiny as part of efforts to curb the trafficking of illicit substances.
The agency has also called for sustained cooperation among security agencies, port authorities and international partners to dismantle drug trafficking networks and prevent Nigeria from being used as a transit point for narcotics.
The latest seizures form part of the agency’s broader campaign against drug trafficking and abuse, with enforcement operations targeting both local distribution networks and international smuggling routes.
The NDLEA reiterated its commitment to intercepting illicit drugs, arresting suspected traffickers and ensuring that offenders face prosecution in accordance with the law.
