The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says its operatives have busted a major warehouse in a secluded estate in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State, where over N194 billion worth of crack were seized.

Its spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said the illicit drugs, 1.8 tons (1,855 kilogrammes) worth more than $278, 250,000, an equivalent of about N194,775,000,000 in street value.

The NDLEA spokesperson said the seizures appeared to be “the biggest singular cocaine seizure in the history of Nigeria’s premier anti-narcotic agency”.

According to him, four drug barons, including a Jamaican and the warehouse manager, have been arrested.

“This was done in a well-coordinated and intelligence-led operation that lasted two days across different locations in Lagos State,”

“They are all members of an international drug syndicate that the agency has been trailing since 2018,” Mr Babafemi said.

He said the warehouse, raided by the NDLEA operatives on September 18, was located in Solebo Estate, Ikorodu.

The NDLEA spokesperson said the barons were picked from their hotels and hideouts in different parts of Lagos between Sunday night and Monday morning.

“Preliminary investigation reveals the class ‘A’ drugs were warehoused in the residential estate, from where the cartel was trying to sell them to buyers in Europe, Asia and other parts of the world.

“They were stored in 10 travel bags and 13 drums,” he said.

Mr Babafemi quoted the NDLEA chairman, Buba Marwa, as commending all the officers and men of the agency involved in the extensive investigation.

This, Mr Marwa said, included those of the American Drug Enforcement Administration (US-DEA).

“They will all go down if they fail to realise that the game has changed,” Mr Marwa warned. 

(NAN)