₦4.4 Billion Worth of “Thai Loud” Intercepted at Lagos Ports — NDLEA Uncovers a Brand New Trafficking Route
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency just recorded a first for Nigeria’s maritime drug enforcement history. NDLEA operatives intercepted two containers of cannabis indica, popularly known as “Loud,” valued at over ₦4.4 billion, at the Apapa and Lekki Deep Sea ports in Lagos State the agency’s first-ever seizure of illicit drugs shipped from Thailand through Nigeria’s maritime corridor.
How the Drugs Were Hidden
Both containers were loaded at the Port of Laem Chabang in Thailand, underscoring the emergence of a new trafficking route being exploited by drug syndicates to smuggle synthetic cannabis into the country. NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi confirmed the details in a statement issued Sunday, August 23, 2026.
At Apapa Port, a container declared to be conveying dry fish, rice, vehicle spare parts, turmeric soap, and inverter batteries was found on Friday, August 21, to actually contain 1,090.5kg of Thai Loud, packed in 54 cartons comprising 2,181 sachets of 500 grams each. At the Lekki Deep Sea Port, a separate container that had already been placed on the agency’s watchlist and monitored by its Marine Special Operations Unit was jointly examined on August 19. Of the seven pallets found inside wrapped in black nylon, four were confirmed to be laced with Thai Loud, yielding 96 cartons made up of 400 parcels weighing a total of 400kg. The remaining three pallets contained 798 rims of A4 paper, used as a cover to disguise the consignment. Combined, the two seizures amounted to 1,490.5kg of cannabis.
