By Florencemary Nwabueze

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency-NDLEA has foiled an attempt to ship high-potency drug into Nigeria, intercepts a massive consignment of canadian loud, a potent synthetic cannabis strain drug, valued at over N10.4 billion at the Tincan Island Port in Lagos.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by the agency's director of media and advocacy, Mr. Femi Babafemi on Wednesday 13th April 2026, stating that the shipment weighing 173.5 kilograms, has a street value of N10,433,750,000..

"The successful operation was the result of months of intelligence gathering and surveillance, tracking the container from its origin in Toronto, Canada, through multiple transshipment points, including Montreal and the Port of Tangier in Morocco." The statement reads

The container arrived at Lagos Port on May 9, 2026, aboard the vessel Osaka Voyage. The following day, on May 12, a joint examination by NDLEA operatives, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) personnel, and other security agencies led to the seizure.

The agency further revealed that the illicit drugs were professionally concealed inside two used vehicles—a Ford bus and a Mercedes Benz C300—stashed within the container.

This seizure comes just four days after NDLEA operatives raided a Lekki mansion, recovering 2,326 kilograms of the same substance valued at over N5.8 billion.

Speaking during the handover of the exhibits on Wednesday, the NDLEA’s Director of Seaports Operations, ACG Ibinabo Archie-Abia, praised the inter-agency cooperation that made the operation possible.

“This achievement once again demonstrates the effectiveness of inter-agency cooperation, international collaboration, and intelligence-driven operations in combating transnational organized crime,” he said.

The NDLEA worked closely with international partners, including the UK Home Office International Operations, the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).

Reacting to the development, NDLEA Chairman/CEO, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), warned international drug syndicates that Nigeria’s ports are no longer viable entry points for their illicit trade.

“This second massive seizure in less than a week is a clear message to the international syndicates who think they can use our ports as entry points for their soul-destroying trade,” Marwa said. “The synergy between NDLEA and Customs Service, as well as other security agencies and our international partners, is yielding fantastic results. We will not rest until every link in this supply chain is broken and those behind these shipments are brought to justice.” he said