The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service, has taken over 4,173.5 kilograms of cannabis indica valued at over N10.4 billion, intercepted at the Tin Can Island Seaport during a joint port operation.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, Assistant Commander-General of Narcotics, ACGN Archieabia Ogboba, said the traffickers used a complex chain of international movements across multiple countries in an attempt to evade detection by security agencies.
She said, “The criminals intended to distort and frustrate law enforcement from monitoring their deadly container by creating multiple layers of movement. The container originated from Toronto by truck on March 28, 2026, and was further conveyed by rail to Montreal before it was loaded onboard vessel Jakarta Express Voyage from Montreal.
“It arrived at Tanger Med Port on April 15, 2026, where it was discharged and reloaded onto vessel Osaka Voyage before arriving at Tin Can Seaport on May 9, 2026.”
Ogboba explained that the shipment was eventually tracked and intercepted through sustained intelligence work and international cooperation involving the NDLEA Marine Intelligence Unit, alongside foreign partners such as Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
She described the seizure as a major breakthrough in efforts to protect the country from drug trafficking networks operating across borders.
Ogboba said the illicit drugs, along with vehicles used in conveying them, would be subjected to forfeiture proceedings in line with legal procedures.
She stated, “The seizure is humongous, a total of 4,173.5kg of cannabis indica worth over N10.4 billion in street value. The interception of this large cache of illicit substances by the Nigerian security architecture at the seaports is highly commendable.”
She praised the officers involved in the operation, calling them “effective and patriotic gatekeepers in ensuring the safety and security of our maritime corridors.”
Ogboba also commended sister agencies, including the Nigerian Ports Authority and the Nigeria Customs Service, for their cooperation during the joint examination that led to the seizure.
She added that the operation demonstrated the importance of intelligence sharing and international collaboration in tackling transnational organised crime.
She further noted that the interception came after earlier seizures of 4,729kg of cannabis indica on April 27, 2026, and another 610.5kg on April 30, 2026.
Reaffirming the agency’s stance, she said NDLEA remains committed under the leadership of Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.) to intensifying the fight against drug trafficking.
“The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency remains resolute, vigilant, and uncompromising in its mandate to rid our society of narcotic substances and protect the future of our nation,” she said.
She also highlighted that a recent Memorandum of Understanding between the NDLEA and the Nigeria Customs Service had strengthened cooperation and improved operational outcomes.
“We shall continue to work closely with the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Ports Authority, and all security agencies to continually disrupt, defeat, and dismantle these nefarious activities, while ensuring the safety of our maritime domain for legitimate trade, tourism, and national prosperity,” she added.
In his remarks, Comptroller of Tin Can Island Customs Command, Frank Onyema, said the drugs were discovered inside a 40-foot container originating from Canada and falsely declared as vehicles only.
He noted, “Exactly two weeks ago, on April 30, 2026, we gathered to brief the public on a major interception made through intelligence and cooperation between the Nigeria Customs Service and the NDLEA. Today, we are back here for yet another significant seizure.
“The container, which originated from Canada just like the previous one, was found to contain 8,347 packages of cannabis indica weighing 4,173.5 kilograms,” he said.
He described the shipment as a deliberate attempt by criminal networks to exploit Nigerian ports while targeting public health and national security.
Onyema added that enforcement efforts would be sustained, while promising that individuals behind such shipments would be tracked, arrested, and prosecuted.
“We are also determined to go beyond seizures. Those behind these shipments will be identified, traced, arrested, and prosecuted. Let me also clearly warn any insider collaborator aiding these criminal activities that this command will not spare anyone found compromising national security for personal gain,” he warned.
He also commended the Comptroller-General of Customs for supporting inter-agency coordination and intelligence sharing.
