Cocaine: Africa's New 'Gold Rush'

The chase for wealth becomes a perpetual game: Beneath the glittering profits, it unearths layers of violence, social and economic ruin, and systemic corruption, where illicit economies bleed into governance, with communities paying the highest price as state authority frays, livelihoods shrink, and cycles of crime deepen, all while criminal cartels jockey for footholds.

Trafficking by organized transnational networks generates substantial revenue for criminal organizations, now amounting to billions of dollars annually.

This concerning trend underscores the urgent need to address and combat these illicit operations.

Recent intercepts in Nigeria, West Africa

The ‘New Gold Rush’ highlights the enormous profits and far-reaching social and economic impacts of the cocaine trade. It has become comparable to historical gold rushes, spurring a fierce competition for wealth and power among criminal organizations. The recent interceptions in Nigeria, West Africa, show how innovative and diversified their trafficking methods are, expanding their reach.

The Nigeria Customs Service, operating at the Ports and Terminal Multiservices Limited (PTML) in Lagos, intercepted a substantial cocaine shipment valued at ₦29.4 billion (approximately $235 million) in November 2025.

The drugs, weighing one tonne (1,000 kilograms), were discovered in a 20-foot container (No. GCNU1332851) that had originated from Freetown, Sierra Leone.

The discovery was made during a routine disinfection process of empty containers intended for export, rather than as part of an import shipment.

The suspicious packages were initially identified by the terminal operator, who promptly notified the authorities. This led to a joint investigation by Customs, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Police Anti-Bomb Squad.

No arrests have been made yet because the container arrived without a consignee or import documentation, making it one of the most mysterious interceptions in the service’s history.

The NDLEA took formal custody of the consignment on Tuesday for further investigation.

Law enforcement agencies from the US and UK have also joined the investigation to trace the origins and network behind the smuggling operation. The case marks the largest single cocaine seizure ever recorded at Tincan Island Port, Lagos, and highlights ongoing efforts to ensure port security and combat illicit drug trafficking.