The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dealt a massive blow to international drug syndicates with the interception of 4,173.5 kilograms of “Canadian Loud”—a high-potency synthetic strain of cannabis—at the Tincan Island Port in Lagos.
The illicit consignment, valued at approximately ₦10.43 billion, was discovered during a joint examination involving the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies on Tuesday, May 12, 2026.
The Global Trail
The seizure was the result of a two-month “sting” operation led by the NDLEA’s Marine Intelligence Unit. According to NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, the container (declared as carrying personal vehicles) began its journey in Toronto, Canada, on March 28. It was moved by rail to Montreal before being loaded onto the vessel Jakarta Express.
The shipment made a transit stop at the Tanger Med Port in Morocco on April 15, where it was transloaded onto the vessel Osaka, eventually arriving in Lagos on Saturday, May 9.
Sophisticated Concealment
To evade detection, the traffickers professionally packed 8,347 packages of the psychoactive substance inside two vehicles—a used Ford bus and a Mercedes-Benz C300—stashed within the 40-foot container.
The Director of Seaports Operations at the NDLEA, ACG Ibinabo Archie-Abia, noted during the formal handover that the success was driven by “painstaking intelligence” and collaboration with international partners, including the UK Home Office International Operations, the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
A Pattern of Escalation
This latest bust comes just four days after NDLEA operatives raided a mansion in the Lekki area of Lagos, where they recovered ₦5.8 billion worth of the same substance.
Reacting to the back-to-back victories, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), issued a stern warning:
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”This second massive seizure in less than a week sends a clear message to international syndicates who think they can use our ports as entry points for their soul-destroying trade. We will not rest until every link in this supply chain is broken.”
Investigation is ongoing to apprehend the primary suspects behind the shipment, including individuals identified through the manifest and shipping documents