Focused Conservation, working alongside the Nigeria Customs Service Special Wildlife Office (NCSWO), the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and with critical support from the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency – Special Investigations Unit (NDLEA-SIU), helped facilitate a major multi-agency operation that resulted in the seizure of 3,047,700 illegally trafficked Tapentadol opioid tablets at Lagos International Airport.
The operation prevented a massive quantity of dangerous opioids from entering criminal distribution networks in Nigeria and highlighted what makes Focused Conservation different: our ability to mentor, connect, and support international partners in tackling the convergence of transnational organized crime, not just wildlife trafficking.
A Different Kind of Conservation Organization
Focused Conservation was founded on the belief that many of today’s most serious threats to wildlife, communities, and national security are interconnected. Illegal wildlife trafficking often overlaps with corruption, money laundering, fraud, smuggling, narcotics trafficking, and other forms of organized crime.
What makes the organization uniquely positioned to address these challenges is the diverse background of its team. Focused Conservation employs former international law enforcement leaders, investigators, and intelliegence professionals who have spent decades building partnerships across governments and leading complex transnational investigations.
That experience allowed Focused Conservation’s Technical Advisor (TA) in Nigeria to recognize a growing need to support partners beyond traditional wildlife crime investigations.
Building Trust Across Agencies
Over several months, Focused Conservation’s TA developed a trusted relationship with his DEA counterpart, who was assisting the development of the NDLEA Special Investigations Unit. Through a series of meetings facilitated by the TA and senior DEA officials, the leadership of the NCSWO and NDLEA-SIU were brought together to explore operational cooperation.
The result was the establishment of a trusted working relationship between two Nigerian units that had not previously collaborated in this manner. All required authorities and protocols were initiated, creating the foundation for a joint operation.
“This is what Focused Conservation does best, bringing the right people together, building trust, and helping partners develop the relationships needed to confront complex criminal networks.” said William Brown, CEO of Focused Conservation.
On 9 May 2026, the DEA Attaché shared intelligence indicating that two consignments of Tramadol-type opioids, labeled as “Essential Re-agents”, were being illegally shipped from India to a fictitious business address in Nigeria.
A joint partnership operation called Operation Combine was launched on 13 May 2026, with officers briefed on a strict need-to-know basis.
The first shipment arrived at Lagos International Airport on 24 May 2026, followed by a second shipment on 28 May 2026. NCSWO officers discreetly monitored both consignments.
Why This Matters
The seizure of more than 3 million opioid tablets represents far more than a single enforcement action. It demonstrates how trusted relationships, mentorship, and cross-agency cooperation can produce tangible results against sophisticated criminal networks.
It also underscores Focused Conservation’s evolving role in supporting international partners as they confront the broader landscape of transnational organized crime. While wildlife trafficking remains central to the organization’s mission, the same investigative skills, intelligence-sharing practices, and partnership-building approaches are proving effective against other criminal threats that endanger both people and wildlife.
A Model for the Future
The successful collaboration between NCSWO, NDLEA-SIU, DEA, and Focused Conservation demonstrates the value of integrating conservation expertise with broader law enforcement capabilities.
As criminal networks increasingly diversify their activities, Focused Conservation’s model of deploying experienced international experts, individuals who understand diplomacy, intelligence, investigations, and operational coordination, provides partner agencies with mentorship that extends beyond any single crime type.
Different backgrounds. Shared purpose. Greater impact.
Focused Conservation remains committed to helping frontline partners build the relationships, skills, and operational capacity needed to confront the world’s most complex criminal threats.
