NDLEA intercepts N10.43bn cannabis shipment at Lagos port

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Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have intercepted a large consignment of Canadian Loud, a high-potency strain of cannabis, weighing 4,173.5 kilograms, with an estimated street value of N10.43bn at the Tincan Island Port in Lagos.

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The agency said the seizure followed months of intelligence gathering, surveillance, and tracking of the shipment, which originated from Toronto, Canada, on March 28, 2026.

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In a statement on Wednesday, the NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said the container was moved by rail to Montreal before being shipped on board the vessel Jakarta Express Voyage, which arrived at Tanger Med Port in Morocco on April 15.

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He added that the shipment was later transferred to another vessel, Osaka Voyage, which eventually arrived at the Lagos Port on May 9.

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According to the agency, its Marine Intelligence Unit and Tincan Island Strategic Command monitored the consignment for over two months in collaboration with international partners, including the United Kingdom Home Office International Operations, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

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“The successful interdiction of the illicit drug consignment followed painstaking intelligence gathering, sustained surveillance, and trailing of the container from its point of departure in Toronto,” the statement partly read.

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Babafemi said the drugs were eventually seized on Tuesday, May 12, during a joint examination involving NDLEA operatives, the Nigeria Customs Service, and other security agencies.

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He explained that the drugs were concealed inside a used Ford bus and a Mercedes-Benz C300 car loaded within the shipping container.

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Speaking during the handover of the exhibits by the Customs Service at the port on Wednesday, NDLEA Director of Seaports Operations, Ibinabo Archie-Abia, said the operation demonstrated the effectiveness of inter-agency and international collaboration in combating transnational drug trafficking.

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The seizure came just days after NDLEA operatives raided a mansion in Lekki, Lagos, allegedly used as a stash house, where 2,326 kilograms of the same substance, valued at over N5.8bn, were recovered.

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Reacting to the development, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers involved in the operation for their professionalism and vigilance.

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Marwa said the repeated interceptions indicated a coordinated attempt by international drug syndicates to flood Nigeria with synthetic cannabis strains.

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“This second massive seizure in less than a week is a clear message to international syndicates who think they can use our ports as entry points for their illicit trade. The synergy between NDLEA, Customs, and our international partners is yielding results,” he said.

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He added that the agency would continue efforts to dismantle drug trafficking networks linked to the shipments and ensure those responsible are brought to justice.

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