NDLEA Intercepts Cocaine Shipment From Brazil in Major Drug Bust

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has foiled a major international drug operation,
seizing cocaine linked to a cartel with ties to Brazil. The bust underscores Nigeria’s ongoing role as a key
node in the global narcotics trade.

NDLEA operatives dismantled an international organized criminal group operating across Nigeria, the
United Kingdom, Brazil, Australia, and the UAE. During an intelligence-led operation in Lagos, they
arrested three cartel ringleaders.
A substantial consignment of cocaine, concealed in textile materials and “local charms” to evade
detection, was found at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos. The NDLEA says the
shipment is worth N5.3 billion in street value.

According to NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, the drug trafficking network used highly
sophisticated concealment techniques: the cocaine was hidden in lace and textile materials, with
spiritual covers included in the packaging to discourage inspection.
Investigators traced key operations back to Brazil, identifying it as a major source point for the cartel’s
cocaine supply.

This is not the first time Nigeria has intercepted cocaine linked to Brazil. In a 2023 operation, the NDLEA
recovered 126.95 kg of cocaine and skunk hidden in imported herbal tea packs and vehicles from Brazil.
In 2024, NDLEA agents recovered 18.72 kg of cocaine from an Ethiopian Airlines flight arriving at Lagos
Airport. Investigations revealed that couriers ingested the drug in Brazil, flew to Ethiopia, and excreted
the narcotics there for pickup.
The bust highlights the transnational nature of drug trafficking, with networks spanning multiple
continents.

It reflects growing coordination between Nigerian law enforcement and international agencies to
disrupt high-volume cocaine smuggling. The use of spiritual “charms” to hide drugs underscores the
increasingly creative tactics used by traffickers to beat security.
NDLEA has launched a full investigation aimed at identifying and prosecuting all cartel leaders and
logistics personnel. It is also coordinating with foreign agencies to track down the Brazilian links of the
cartel.

Authorities are calling for stronger international cooperation to dismantle the global supply chain and
prevent future consignments.

By Oyinkansola Shittu.

thewyreng