Over N2 Billion Worth Meth Found in Lagos Auto Parts Containers

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has uncovered methamphetamine worth over N2 billion concealed in automobile parts shipped from Canada. The drugs, weighing a total of 83.301 kilograms, were intercepted at Lagos ports en route to warehouses in the Ladipo automobile market in Mushin, Lagos.

According to the NDLEA, the discovery was made during joint inspections with Customs and other stakeholders. The operation followed months of intelligence gathering and monitoring of the shipments from Canada to Lagos.

READ MORE STORIES: ECOWAS: After 19 years Nigeria Finally Clears N85bn, $54m Levy

One of the containers was intercepted at the Sifax bonded terminal on December 12. It contained 5.001kg of methamphetamine hidden in a bag wrapped in bed sheets, which was discovered in a Toyota Camry vehicle. This led to the arrest of Isaac Onwumere, a businessman linked to the consignment.

Another container examined on December 13 revealed 1,735 parcels of Loud, a highly potent strain of cannabis, packed in 44 jumbo bags, with a total weight of 867.5kg. Additionally, six plastic coolers containing 87 packs of methamphetamine, weighing 78.3kg, were also recovered. Two businessmen, Nwanolue Emeka and Friday Ogbe, were arrested in connection with the second shipment.

The combined street value of the seized methamphetamine stands at N124,951,000, while the cannabis is estimated at N2,168,750,000.

The NDLEA detailed the tracking of these shipments, which began as early as October. Intelligence efforts traced the consignments from Toronto, Canada, through Montreal, and finally to Lagos, where they were intercepted.

The agency reiterated its commitment to combating drug trafficking and ensuring that illicit substances do not infiltrate Nigerian communities. Investigations into the case are ongoing, and the suspects will face prosecution accordingly.