Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Tag: cocaine seizure

  • Customs and NDLEA intercept cocaine consignment at Apapa port in joint operation

    Customs and NDLEA intercept cocaine consignment at Apapa port in joint operation

    In a report by Punch, the Nigeria Customs Service and NDLEA say they intercepted 30.1kg of cocaine concealed on a vessel at Greenview Terminal, Apapa Port, during a joint operation.

    Authorities said the drugs were packaged in slabs and hidden on board, describing the seizure as part of tightened surveillance at Nigeria’s busiest seaport.

    The bust adds to concerns about maritime smuggling routes and the need for stronger profiling, scanning coverage, and intelligence-led interdiction across port corridors.

    Echotitbits take: Expect follow-up disclosures on arrests, consignee/handler trails, and prosecution. The bigger watch item is whether joint interdiction becomes routine—backed by improved scanning capacity and sustained intelligence-sharing.

    Source: The Punch — January 4, 2026 (https://punchng.com/customs-ndlea-seize-30-1kg-cocaine-at-apapa-port/)

    The Punch January 4, 2026

    Photo Credit: The Punch

  • NDLEA intercepts UK-bound cocaine concealed in factory-sealed starch sachets

    NDLEA intercepts UK-bound cocaine concealed in factory-sealed starch sachets

    2025-12-29 09:00:00
    According to Punch, NDLEA operatives uncovered 1.5kg of cocaine concealed inside factory-sealed cold-water starch sachets at the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, and arrested an ex-convict alongside cargo agents linked to the attempted shipment to the UK.

    The concealment method underscores how traffickers exploit everyday export items to reduce suspicion, while enforcement agencies tighten checks on logistics chains and facilitation networks around airports.

    Beyond seizures, successful prosecution and disruption of supply networks remain the deterrence test for interdiction efforts.

    Channels TV reports “the seizure of 75 parcels of cocaine, weighing a total of 1.50 kilograms,” while The Guardian also states the drugs were “concealed in factory-sealed sachets of cold-water starch and destined for the United Kingdom.”

    Echotitbits take: Traffickers innovate faster than paperwork. The winning move is sustained profiling, tighter cargo-agent oversight, and faster court timelines that turn arrests into convictions.

    Source: The Punch — December 29, 2025 (https://punchng.com/ndlea-uncovers-uk-bound-cocaine-hidden-in-starch-at-lagos-airport/)
    The Punch 2025-12-29

    Photo Credit: The Punch