The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has intercepted consignments of cannabis and codeine-based cough syrup with a combined street value of more than ₦5 billion at seaports in Lagos and Rivers states.

The agency also arrested a businessman identified as Philip Tunde, who was allegedly attempting to travel to Milan, Italy, with 4.8 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed in shoes and travelling bags.

The seizures and arrest followed months of intelligence gathering and tracking by NDLEA operatives.

Thai Loud Seized at Apapa Port

According to the NDLEA, its operatives at the Apapa Port in Lagos, working with the Nigeria Customs Service and other stakeholders, subjected two containers from Bangkok, Thailand, to 100 per cent examination.

A search of one of the containers led to the discovery of 161 parcels of Thai Loud weighing 124kg, with an estimated street value of ₦372 million.

The agency said the cannabis was concealed inside two refrigerators and two cartons.

Canadian Cannabis Worth Over ₦3.8bn Recovered

At the Tin Can Island Port, NDLEA operatives carried out a joint examination of a watch-listed container shipped from Montreal, Canada.

The search reportedly yielded 2,595 parcels of Canadian Loud weighing 1,297.5kg.

The consignment, concealed inside a Toyota Sienna and Hyundai Elantra, alongside 24 blue drums and six jumbo bags, was estimated by the agency to have a street value of more than ₦3.8 billion.

Codeine Syrup, Loud Found at Onne Port

At the Onne Port in Rivers State, two containers placed on the NDLEA watchlist were subjected to joint examination with Customs and other security agencies.

Operatives recovered 40 packs of Loud weighing 22kg, concealed in a travelling bag and three of five 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 travelled from India to Saudi Arabia, where its history of origin was allegedly deleted before it was shipped onward.

The agency placed the combined street value of the Loud and codeine consignments at ₦833.2 million.

Milan-Bound Passenger Arrested With Cocaine

In a related operation at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, NDLEA operatives arrested Tunde at the joint screening point of Terminal 2 on September 27, 2026.

He was reportedly preparing to board a Royal Air Maroc flight to Milan, Italy, when operatives searched his luggage.

The search uncovered 16 parcels of cocaine concealed in the soles of eight pairs of trainers and canvas shoes. Another 195 wraps of the substance were allegedly hidden inside the railings of four travelling bags.

The cocaine had a combined weight of 4.80kg, according to the agency.

Suspect Allegedly Paid ₦16m for Cocaine

The NDLEA said Tunde told investigators that he paid ₦16 million in cash for the cocaine concealed in the shoes.

He allegedly said the cocaine in the travelling bags was intended for delivery to a business partner in Italy.

According to the agency, Tunde claimed that he raised the money from compensation he received following an injury sustained while working at a plastic manufacturing company in Italy, where he lost the tips of two fingers.

The claims remain part of the ongoing investigation.

Other Drug Operations Reported

The NDLEA also disclosed other operations carried out across the country.

In Osun State, operatives reportedly destroyed 20,234kg of skunk from a cannabis farm covering 8.0936 hectares in Area 4, Ife South Local Government Area.

In Lagos, officers raided an unoccupied compound at Divine Estate, Ago Palace, where they recovered 209,000 tablets of tramadol.

The agency also arrested a 23-year-old man, Ekundayo Taiwo, at Ladipo Spare Parts Market following the seizure of 61 grammes of Colorado and 24 grammes of methamphetamine allegedly concealed in a bottle of an energy drink being transported as a waybill package.

NDLEA Commends Operatives

The NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended the officers involved in the operations.

Marwa called for sustained efforts against drug trafficking networks and continued intelligence-led operations to disrupt the movement of illicit drugs into and out of the country.

The suspects remain subject to investigation and due legal process.