The Nigerian authorities have announced their biggest seizure of cocaine at a port in the country's commercial capital, Lagos.

It is the latest in a series of recent successful drugs busts and it demonstrates renewed resolve by the Nigerians to tackle the trade in narcotics.

Nigeria is still one of the world's hubs for the international drugs trade.

But in recent months a series of major seizures has given the impression at least that the authorities are determined to do something about it.

This latest haul of cocaine with a street value of about $10m is the largest by the Nigerian drugs law enforcement agency since it was established 12 years ago.

Its chairman, Alhaji Belo Lafiaji, said 60 kg of cocaine were seized from a Lagos port area known as Tin Can Island.

Arrests

There were three arrests, two of them Nigerian, and a third described as a foreign collaborator working on board a ship in the port.

That vessel has also been impounded.

Nigeria does not produce hard drugs like cocaine and heroin, but Nigerian gangs have played an important role in transporting drugs to America and Europe.

In recognition of its success in tackling the trade, the United States Government earlier this year removed Nigeria from a blacklist of states suspected of involvement in the international drugs trade.

But, at the same time, the Americans have reiterated that they believe Nigeria remains a centre for narcotics trafficking and money-laundering.