The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has made significant seizures at three major seaports in Nigeria, intercepting large quantities of cannabis and codeine-based syrup worth over N5 billion. According to a statement issued by the NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the agency's operatives at the Apapa, Tin Can Island, and Onne seaports made the arrests following months of intelligence and tracking of the shipments. The seized consignments include 161 parcels of Thai Loud cannabis weighing 124kg, worth N372 million, concealed in refrigerators and cartons at the Apapa port.
Further seizures were made at the Tin Can Island port, where 2,595 parcels of Canadian Loud cannabis weighing 1,297.5kg were recovered, worth over N3.8 billion. At the Onne port, 40 packs of Loud cannabis weighing 22kg and 109,600 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup weighing 16,440kg were seized, with a combined street value of N833.2 million. The NDLEA noted that the codeine and Loud consignments were shipped from various countries, including Thailand, Canada, and India, and were destined for different destinations.
In a related development, the NDLEA arrested a Milan-bound businessman, Philip Tunde, with 4.80 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed in the soles of shoes and the railings of travel bags at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. Tunde, 28, was arrested on September 27, 2026, ahead of his Royal Air Maroc flight to Milan, Italy. The cocaine was hidden in 16 parcels and 195 wraps, which tested positive for the substance.
According to the NDLEA, Tunde claimed he paid N16 million in cash for the cocaine in the shoes, while the consignment in the bags was meant for delivery to his partner in Italy. He stated that he raised the money from compensation paid to him for an injury at a plastic manufacturing company in Italy, where he lost the tips of two fingers. The agency noted that Tunde's arrest was a significant blow to the drug trafficking network.
The NDLEA also reported other nationwide operations, including the destruction of 20,234kg of skunk on 8.0936 hectares of cannabis farm in Osun State. In Lagos, operatives recovered 209,000 tablets of tramadol from an unoccupied compound, while a 23-year-old man was nabbed with synthetic cannabis and methamphetamine hidden in a bottle of energy drink.
The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended the operatives on their successful operations and called for a sustained war against drug trafficking networks. The agency's efforts aim to curb the proliferation of illicit substances in Nigeria and prevent their export to other countries.
The NDLEA's recent seizures and arrests demonstrate the agency's commitment to combating drug trafficking in Nigeria. The large quantities of seized substances and the arrest of the Milan-bound businessman highlight the scope of the problem and the need for continued efforts to address it. The agency's operations will likely continue to target drug trafficking networks and prevent the spread of illicit substances.
Key points
- The NDLEA seized cannabis and codeine-based syrup worth over N5 billion at three major seaports in Nigeria.
- A Milan-bound businessman was arrested with 4.80 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed in shoes and travel bags.
- The NDLEA destroyed 20,234kg of skunk on 8.0936 hectares of cannabis farm in Osun State.
