Gambiaj.com – (LAGOS, Nigeria) – Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced the seizure of approximately one metric ton of cocaine at Lagos’ Tincan Island Port, the largest single cocaine bust in the port’s history, prompting a joint international investigation involving U.S. and British authorities.

The drugs, valued at more than ₦338 billion ($235 million, €232 million) on international markets, were discovered last weekend inside an empty container at the Port Terminal Multi Services Limited (PTML) facility.

The suspicious consignment was first detected by port operators, who immediately alerted the NDLEA, Nigeria Customs Service, and other security agencies for a joint inspection.

Field tests confirmed the substance as cocaine, after which NDLEA officers formally took custody of the cache on Tuesday.

NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd.) said operatives from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the U.K.’s National Crime Agency (NCA) have joined the ongoing investigation to trace the international cartel behind the shipment.

“The essence of collaborating with our international partners on this case is to ensure no stone is left unturned and every gap is sufficiently covered so that ultimately we can get all the masterminds of this huge consignment brought to book wherever they are located across the globe,” Marwa stated. He credited the swift inter-agency coordination between NDLEA and Customs for the operation’s success.

The seizure marks a major breakthrough in Nigeria’s efforts to disrupt global drug trafficking routes that increasingly use West African ports as transit corridors for narcotics bound for Europe and North America.

Authorities say investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend all individuals linked to the attempted smuggling operation through one of West Africa’s busiest maritime hubs.