The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has dismantled a major international drug cartel, arresting three of its leaders and intercepting a cocaine shipment valued at N5.3 billion.
The suspects were arrested in Lagos following a series of coordinated raids that also uncovered firearms, charms, and illicit drugs concealed in textile materials and lace fabrics.
A statement issued by the NDLEA on Sunday confirmed that the agency’s operatives intercepted the consignment at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.
According to the statement, “The operations led to the arrest of three drug kingpins and the seizure of a cocaine consignment valued at N5.3bn, cleverly concealed in lace fabrics and charms.”
The NDLEA noted that the arrests are part of its intensified crackdown on cartels operating across continents, stressing that the suspects have been on the radar of the agency for months.
The statement further explained, “The syndicate had attempted to beat security checks by disguising the illicit substances as textile materials. However, diligent surveillance and intelligence gathering paid off, leading to their arrest.”
The agency assured that the investigation would extend beyond Nigeria to track the cartel’s networks and collaborators, while warning that traffickers will not escape the full weight of the law.
