Nigeria seizes record 1.8 tons of cocaine worth $278 million

Lagos, Sep 20 (EFE).- Nigeria has seized a record 1.8 tons of cocaine with an estimated $278 million market value.

It is the largest cocaine consignment seized in the country’s history, anti-narcotics agency spokesperson Femi Babafemi told EFE on Tuesday.

Police discovered the heap of narcotics from a warehouse in the southern city of Ikorodu, some 40 km from Lagos, on Sunday.

It was packed in 10 travel bags and 13 drums and was to be sent for sale in Europe, Asia, and other countries.

“Five people, including a Jamaican and the warehouse manager, have been arrested in connection with the seizure,” Babafemi told EFE.

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

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari commended the narcotics agency for the seizure.

The agency said the seizure has dealt “a historical blow to the drug cartels and (sent) a strong warning that they will all go down if they fail to realise that the game has changed.” EFE

bb-ssk