The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said on Monday that the drug was discovered in a warehouse in a quiet estate in Lagos’ Ikorodu neighborhood. It was hidden in 10 travel bags and 13 drums.
The agency seized a total of 1,855 kilograms of cocaine and estimates that its street value could be more than nine billion naira (US$453.5 million).
According to preliminary findings, the class A narcotic was destined for Europe, Asia, and other parts of the world.
During the operation conducted on Sunday, Nigeria’s police arrested five suspects, four alleged drug lords and the manager of the warehouse. One of the arrested drug lords is a Jamaican national, according to the statement.
NDLEA stressed that the suspects were arrested at different hotels and hideouts in Lagos state, in a “well coordinated and intelligence-led operation,” alleging that “they are all members of an international drug syndicate,” that the Agency has been tracking since 2018.
The agency identified them as: Messrs Soji Jibril, 69, an indigene of Ibadan, Oyo state; Emmanuel Chukwu, 65, from Ekwulobia, Anambra state; Wasiu Akinade, 53, from Ibadan, Oyo state; Sunday Oguntelure, 53, from Okitipupa, Ondo state; and Kelvin Smith, 42, a native of Kingston, Jamaica.
NDLEA Chief Executive, Brig. General Mohamed Buba Marwa stressed that the bust is “a historical blow to the drug cartels and a strong warning that they’ll all go down if they fail to realize that the game has changed.”
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) was involved in the NDLEA’s extensive investigation, read the statement.
Nigeria’s state broadcaster, Voice of Nigeria, cited the country’s President Muhammadu Buhari as saying that the news of the cocaine recovery “gladdens his heart.”
