NDLEA Intercepts N5bn Loud, Codeine Shipments, Arrests Milan-bound Cocaine Suspect Law

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted drug consignments valued at over N5 billion at the Lagos and Onne ports, arrested a Milan-bound businessman with 4.8kg of cocaine at the Lagos airport and destroyed over 20 tonnes of cannabis in Osun State.

The agency also recovered large quantities of tramadol, methamphetamine and other illicit drugs in operations across Lagos, Kogi, Edo and Plateau States, while a suspected drug trafficker who jumped bail six years ago was arrested in Plateau State.

NDLEA’s director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said that at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, operatives arrested 38-year-old Philip Tunde on 27th September, 2026, during passenger screening at Terminal 2.

Tunde, who was scheduled to travel to Milan, Italy, aboard a Royal Air Maroc flight, was allegedly found with 16 parcels of cocaine concealed in the soles of eight pairs of trainers and canvas shoes, as well as 195 wraps hidden in the railings of four travelling bags.

The substances, which tested positive for cocaine, weighed 4.80kg.

According to the agency, the suspect claimed during interrogation that he paid N16 million in cash for the cocaine concealed in the shoes, while the consignment in the travelling bags was intended for delivery to his business partner in Italy.

The NDLEA said the suspect claimed he raised the money from compensation he received for an injury sustained while working at a plastic manufacturing company in Italy.

At the Tincan Island Port, NDLEA operatives conducted a joint examination of a watch-listed container from Montreal, Canada, on 29 September.

They recovered 2,595 parcels of Canadian Loud weighing 1,297.5kg, concealed in a Toyota Sienna and a Hyundai Elantra, along with 24 blue drums and six jumbo bags. The consignment was valued at over N3.8 billion.

Meanwhile, at the Apapa, Tincan Island and Onne ports, NDLEA operatives intercepted consignments of Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, and codeine-based cough syrup following intelligence-led tracking of the shipments.

At the Apapa port, officers subjected two containers from Bangkok, Thailand, to 100 per cent examination in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service and other stakeholders.

The search of one of the containers yielded 161 parcels of Thai Loud, weighing 124kg, concealed in two refrigerators and two cartons. The consignment was estimated at N372 million.

At the Onne Port in Rivers State, two watchlisted containers were jointly examined by NDLEA, Customs, and other security agencies.

The exercise led to the recovery of 40 packs of Loud weighing 22kg, concealed in a travelling bag and three vehicles shipped in one of the containers.

The second container contained 109,600 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup weighing 16,440kg.

The NDLEA said the container had originated from India and was routed through Saudi Arabia, with its shipping history allegedly altered to avoid detection.

The agency put the combined street value of the Loud and codeine consignments at N833.2 million.