Three arrested as NDLEA intercepts illicit drugs worth over N2b at Lagos port

Three businessmen have been arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) over the seizure of illicit drugs consisting of methamphetamine and Loud, reportedly valued at over N2 billion in street worth.

According to the agency’s statement on Sunday, December 15, the illicit drugs, concealed in automobile spare parts imported from Canada, were seized at Lagos’ Tincan Seaport following months of intelligence-led tracking across three continents.

The illicit drugs, said to be weighing a combined 83.301 kilograms, were recovered from separate containers on December 12 and 13, 2024. These containers, carrying vehicles and spare parts destined for Ladipo Market in Mushin, Lagos, were flagged during inspections.

According to the statement, on December 12, NDLEA operatives examined a container at the Sifax bonded terminal and discovered 5.001kg of methamphetamine wrapped in a bed sheet inside a Toyota Camry.

A businessman, Isaac Onwumere, linked to the shipment, was arrested. The following day, another container containing 1,735 parcels of Loud (weighing 867.5kg) and 87 packs of methamphetamine (weighing 78.3kg) was intercepted.

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Two suspects, Nwanolue Emeka and Friday Ogbe, were apprehended in connection with the contraband.

The methamphetamine seizures, weighing 83.301kg, are valued at ₦124.95 million, while the Loud shipment, weighing 867.5kg, is worth an estimated ₦2.17 billion in street value.

The NDLEA’s tracking efforts began in October 2024 when preparations for the shipments were identified in Toronto, Canada. The first container, carrying 5.001kg of meth, was monitored as it traveled from Toronto to Montreal, loaded onto a vessel, and trans-shipped through Antwerp, Belgium, before arriving in Lagos on December 1, 2024.

The second container, containing Loud and additional methamphetamine, followed a similar route, arriving at Lagos port on December 6, 2024. Both consignments were traced using a combination of special operations units and collaboration with customs and other port stakeholders.