Experts demand tighter security as drug cartels target seaports

Nigerian seaports have seen a massive surge in multi-billion-naira hard drug interceptions in recent times.
International drug cartels from the Americas, Europe and Asia are increasingly utilising highly sophisticated concealment tactics to sneak cocaine, synthetic cannabis and opioids through major maritime gateways.
In the first half of 2026 alone, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) intercepted 109,306.75 kilograms, equivalent to 109.3 tonnes, of illicit drugs with an estimated street value of over N45 billion across the nation’s seaports.
This menace highlights the increasing use of the nation’s maritime gateways by internationa...