The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted multiple consignments of synthetic cannabis, popularly known as Colorado or “Colos,” concealed in cargoes from the United Kingdom, while also recovering illicit drugs hidden in music speakers and loaves of bread during a series of nationwide operations.
The anti-narcotics agency said the operations, conducted across Lagos, Ondo, Edo, Delta, Kaduna, Plateau, Bayelsa and Kano states, led to the arrest of several suspects and the seizure of more than 2.3 tonnes of assorted illicit substances.
At the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, NDLEA operatives intercepted a consignment from the UK containing 27 parcels of Colorado weighing 32.2 kilogrammes.
A real estate agent, Abideen Jide Salami, was arrested on September 9 after allegedly arriving with a secret collection code reportedly sent by his brother in the United Kingdom to pick up a suitcase containing the substance.
In a related operation, officers tracked and arrested 44-year-old Nurudeen Abiodun Kadiri, who was allegedly designated to receive another UK shipment containing 12.25kg of Colorado. The suspect reportedly told investigators that the package had also been sent by a relative based in the UK.
In Lagos, operatives from the NDLEA Directorate of Operations and General Investigation intercepted a music speaker concealing three packages of Colorado at a motor park in the Maza Maza area.
The shipment was reportedly destined for Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, and onward to Liberia. Following a sting operation at a nearby restaurant, officers arrested tour agent Ifeanyi Obed Augustine, 41, and the alleged owner of the consignment, Obasi Ugochukwu, 46.
In another seizure at Iddo Motor Park, Lagos, NDLEA operatives arrested Ifeanyi Nwokolo Henry on September 11 while he was allegedly attempting to transport 2.1kg of Colorado to Kano State.
In Delta State, separate operations in Ughelli and Asaba led to the recovery of pentazocine injections, codeine syrup, tramadol, diazepam, flunitrazepam, popularly known as Hypnox, and MDMA, also called Molly. Some of the drugs were concealed inside music speakers. Two suspects, Emeka Oji and Chukwuebuka Anedi, were arrested in connection with the seizures.
A major haul was recorded in Kano State, where NDLEA operatives raided the Sabon Gari area and arrested 20-year-old Saidu Adamu with 785,000 capsules of Pregabalin weighing 669.425kg.
In a separate operation along the Zaria-Kano-Hadejia Road, officers intercepted 1,700 tablets of diazepam allegedly concealed inside loaves of bread. A 28-year-old suspect, Habibu Sabitu, was arrested in connection with the consignment.
Similarly, operatives at Katako Market in Jos, Plateau State, arrested 51-year-old Chinedu Uzor with 157,100 capsules of tramadol.
The agency also intensified efforts to curb cannabis cultivation across the country. In Edo State, NDLEA operatives destroyed 4,832.56kg of skunk on cannabis farms located in Usen Forest, Igwe-Oke Forest and Ogboha Forest across Ovia South West, Owan East and Owan West local government areas.
A suspect, Sunday Segun, 39, was arrested during the operation.
In Ondo State, officers acting on intelligence raided a residence along Oke-Iya, Ijoka Road, Akure, where they recovered 186kg of skunk hidden in the boot of a Toyota Avalon with registration number ABJ 917 FV. The suspect, 58-year-old Paul Ogbuwala, was arrested and allegedly planned to move the consignment to Jos for distribution.
Meanwhile, a female suspect, Hannah Michael, was apprehended in Gonin Gora, Kaduna State, with 369.6kg of cannabis.
In Bayelsa State, four suspects were arrested at Ovom, Yenagoa, after operatives uncovered 110 bags of cannabis weighing 876kg. Those arrested were identified as 70-year-old Godwoman Gboriye, Motombo Silver, 44, Pere Andrew, 39, and Keme Andrew, 43.
Beyond enforcement activities, the NDLEA said it continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaign nationwide, organising sensitisation programmes in schools, communities, workplaces and places of worship.
Among the activities conducted during the week were a drug awareness lecture at Mezube Islamiyya Academy in Tudun Wada, Kano; an advocacy visit to the management of the Cross River State College of Health Technology in Calabar; and an engagement with traditional rulers from Rikkos who visited the NDLEA Academy in Jos.
The agency’s Zone 4 Command also paid a courtesy and advocacy visit to the Emir of Keffi, Alhaji Shehu Chindo Yamusa III, in Nasarawa State.
Commending officers involved in the operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), urged personnel to sustain efforts aimed at disrupting drug trafficking networks across the country.
Marwa directed operatives to continue targeting supply routes used by drug traffickers, including airports, seaports, land borders and areas where illicit cannabis cultivation remains prevalent.
