NDLEA Seizes N3.3bn Meth, Loud In Auto Parts From Canada, Arrests Two Businessmen

Abuja, Nigeria— The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested two suspects and intercepted illicit drug consignments valued at N3.3 billion, concealed in automobile spare parts imported from Canada.

It was gathered that the shipments, containing 83.301 kilograms of methamphetamine and a potent synthetic cannabis strain known as “Loud,” were meant for distribution during the festive season, according to the agency.

The two businessmen identified as Nwanolue Emeka and Friday Ogbe, were arrested in connection with the smuggling attempt.

The bust followed months of intelligence-driven surveillance that spanned three continents, culminating in operations at the Tincan seaport in Lagos on December 12 and 13, 2024.

In a statement released on Sunday, Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, described the seizure as a historic milestone in the agency’s fight against drug trafficking.

The recovered containers, which had been marked as vehicle and spare parts shipments, were allegedly destined for warehouses in the Ladipo automobile parts market in Mushin, Lagos.

The statement read, “While one of the containers going to Ladipo market through the Sifax bonded terminal was examined on Thursday 12th December, not less than 5.001kg methamphetamine hidden in a bag wrapped in bed sheet that came in a Toyota Camry car, was recovered, even as a businessman, Isaac Onwumere linked with the consignment was promptly arrested.

“The other container bearing automobile spare parts checked on Friday 13th December was found to contain 1, 735 parcels of Loud packed in 44 jumbo bags with a total weight of 867.5kg and six plastic coolers containing 87 packs of methamphetamine weighing 78.3kg.

Babafemi explained that the two meth consignments have a combined weight of 83.301kg worth One Hundred and Twenty-Four Million Nine Hundred and Fifty-One Thousand Naira (124,951,000.00) while the 867.5kg Loud is worth Two Billion One Hundred and Sixty-Eight Million Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N2,168,750,000.00) in street value.

Be said the seizures were made during a joint examination of the shipments with Customs and other port stakeholders.

“This followed months of intelligence processing and tracking of the consignments from their ports of loading in Canada to the landing port in Lagos by combined Special Operations Units in NDLEA and the Tincan Port Strategic Command of the Agency.

“The first container with 5.001kg meth came under the radar of NDLEA’s intelligence network on 4th October 2024 when the preparation for the shipment began in Toronto, Canada, monitored through 8th October when the shipment was received at the rail ramp, loaded on the rail and departed to Montreal, Canada where it arrived and was unloaded the following day 9th October.

According to Babafemi, the consignment was further monitored till it was loaded on a vessel on 19th October through when the vessel arrived and discharged at Antwerp in Belgium on 30th October after which the consignment was trans-shipped and loaded on 14th November before arriving Lagos port on 1st December and released to a bonded terminal two days after.

“The second shipment containing 867.5kg Loud and 78.3kg methamphetamine followed the same route. It came under NDLEA’s intelligence tracking on 8th October 2024 when the consignments were delivered to the shipper in Toronto, Canada, loaded on the rail on 14th October and arrived Montreal the following day, 15th, after which they were loaded on a vessel to Europe on 20th October.

“After arrival and trans-shipment at Antwerp in Belgium on 6th and 17th November respectively, the consignments were tracked till they arrived and discharged from the vessel at Lagos port on 6th December before being moved to the terminal on 10th December,” he added.