The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has taken possession of a major shipment of Canadian Loud, a high-potency cannabis strain, weighing 4,173.5 kilogrammes with an estimated street value of N10.4 billion. The interception occurred through intelligence sharing and collaboration between the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and anti-narcotics officers at the Tin Can Island Port in Lagos.
Operation Details
The successful seizure followed extensive intelligence gathering, continuous surveillance, and tracking of the container, which was transloaded multiple times after departing Toronto, Canada, on March 28. The shipment traveled by rail to Montreal, where it was loaded onto the vessel Jakarta Express. It reached Tanger Med Port in Morocco on April 15, was discharged and reloaded onto another vessel, Osaka Voyage, which arrived at Lagos Port on Saturday, May 9, 2026.
Over two months of monitoring by the NDLEA Marine Intelligence Unit and the Tin Can Island Strategic Command, in close cooperation with international partners including the United Kingdom Home Office International Operations, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, led to the seizure on Tuesday, May 12, during a joint examination involving NDLEA operatives, Customs personnel, and other security agencies.
Recent Related Seizure
This development came just four days after NDLEA operatives raided a Lekki mansion used as a stash house, recovering 4,000 parcels of the same psychoactive substance weighing 2,326 kilogrammes, valued at over N5.8 billion. The illicit drugs were professionally concealed inside two vehicles—a used Ford bus and a Mercedes-Benz C300 car—hidden within the shipping container.
Official Statements
Speaking during the handover of exhibits by the NCS at the Lagos Port, NDLEA Director of Seaports Operations, Ibinabo Abia, stated that the operation demonstrated the effectiveness of inter-agency cooperation, international collaboration, and intelligence-driven efforts in combating transnational organised crime and illicit drug trafficking. She noted that the seizure reflected the commitment of Nigerian security agencies to protecting citizens from criminal networks driven by profit at the expense of public health and safety.
“It is indeed an appropriate occasion as the NDLEA formally takes over from the Nigerian Customs Service prohibited substances, which tested positive for cannabis sativa, weighing a total of 4,173.5 kilogrammes, alongside the vehicles used to convey the illicit drugs,” Abia said. “This exhibit will go through the necessary legal processes in accordance with the law. The quantity involved is enormous, about 4,173.5 kilogrammes of cannabis indica worth over N16.4 billion in street value. The interception of this large cache of illicit substances by the Nigerian security architecture at the port is highly commendable.”
She added: “These gallant officers have served as effective and patriotic gatekeepers in ensuring the safety and security of our maritime corridors. It is important to commend the professionalism, resilience, and dedication displayed by the cooperating sister agencies, especially the Nigerian Ports Authority, the Customs Service, and other security organisations during the joint examination through which the substances were recovered from the targeted container. We deeply appreciate the sacrifices and patriotic roles played by the NPA and the Nigeria Customs Service in the interest of national security.”
Abia pledged that the NDLEA would continue to work closely with the Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigerian Ports Authority, and other security agencies to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking networks while safeguarding the maritime domain for legitimate trade and national prosperity.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Marwa (rtd), commended officers of the Tin Can Command and the Marine Intelligence Unit for their vigilance and professionalism. He noted that the recent seizures of Canadian Loud indicated a coordinated attempt by international drug syndicates to flood the Nigerian market with synthetic cannabis strains.
“This second massive seizure in less than a week sends a clear message to international syndicates seeking to use our ports as entry points for their destructive trade. The synergy between NDLEA, the Customs Service, other security agencies, and international partners such as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the UK-HOIO, and the US DEA is yielding remarkable results. We will not rest until every link in this supply chain is broken and those behind these shipments are brought to justice,” Marwa stated.
The Customs Area Controller of the Tin Can Island Port Command, Frank Onyeka, described the seizure as another significant breakthrough, following an earlier interception announced on April 30, 2026. He said the incident showed that criminal networks remained desperate to use Nigerian ports to smuggle dangerous substances into the country, while also demonstrating the alertness and commitment of security agencies to stopping them.
According to him, the seizure followed credible intelligence gathered jointly by the Nigeria Customs Service and NDLEA officers. Enforcement officers intercepted and subjected a 40-foot container, with number HAMU247034-8, to thorough physical examination. He disclosed that the container, which originated from Canada, was found to contain 8,347 packages of cannabis weighing 4,173.5 kilogrammes, with an estimated street value of N16.6 billion.
“This is not just another seizure. It represents a deliberate attempt by criminal elements to jeopardise national security, endanger lives, and profit from the destruction of our young people. Thankfully, due to the vigilance and professionalism of our officers and partner agencies, this consignment will never reach the streets,” Onyeka said. “Let me assure Nigerians that this command remains resolute. Recent events have only strengthened our determination. We will continue to intensify surveillance, deepen intelligence gathering, and sustain collaboration with NDLEA and other agencies to ensure more interceptions are made.”
He added: “We are also determined to go beyond seizures. Those behind these shipments will be identified, traced, arrested, and prosecuted. I also warn any insider collaborators aiding these criminal activities that this command will not spare anyone found compromising national security for personal gain. No matter how long it takes, such individuals will be tracked down and dealt with according to the law.”
Onyeka expressed appreciation to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale, and the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, General Marwa, for the strong partnership forged in the interest of national security and the fight against illicit drugs. He also thanked the media for supporting efforts against smuggling and drug trafficking.
