NDLEA intercepts UK-bound cannabis, drugs concealed in bread, speakers

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted two consignments of synthetic cannabis, popularly known as Colorado, weighing 44.45kg in consolidated cargoes from the United Kingdom.

The agency also recovered consignments of the illicit substance concealed in music speakers at two motor parks in Lagos and arrested at least seven suspects linked to the seized drugs.

The NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

“At the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja Lagos, NDLEA operatives intercepted a UK-inbound consignment concealing 27 parcels of colos weighing 32.20kg, while a real estate agent Abideen Jide Salami, who showed up with a secret collection code relayed from his UK-based brother to collect a large luggage containing the illicit substance was arrested on Wednesday 9th September 2026,” the statement read.

The agency said a follow-up operation linked to another UK consignment led to the arrest of Nurudeen Abiodun Kadiri, 44, who was allegedly the designated recipient of 12.25kg of Colorado.

According to the NDLEA, Kadiri said the consignment was sent to him by his brother in the UK.

Meanwhile, operatives of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation intercepted a music speaker containing three packs of Colorado at a motor park in Maza-Maza, Lagos.

The consignment was reportedly destined for Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, and ultimately Liberia.

The agency said a tour agent, Ifeanyi Obed Augustine, 41, and the owner of the consignment, Obasi Ugochukwu, 46, were arrested following a sting operation at a nearby eatery.

In a separate operation at Iddo Park, Lagos, the NDLEA arrested Ifeanyi Nwokolo Henry on Friday, September 11, while he was allegedly attempting to dispatch 2.1kg of Colorado to Kano.

In Delta State, the agency said separate operations in Ughelli and Asaba led to the recovery of ampoules of pentazocine injection, codeine syrup, tramadol, diazepam, flunitrazepam, also known as Hypnox, and MDMA, popularly known as Molly.

Several of the substances were concealed in music speakers, while two suspects, Emeka Oji and Chukwuebuka Anedi, were arrested.

In Kano, NDLEA operatives raided Sabon Gari and arrested 20-year-old Saidu Adamu with 785,000 capsules of pregabalin weighing 669.425kg.

A stop-and-search operation along the Zaria-Kano-Hadejia Road also led to the seizure of 1,700 tablets of diazepam concealed in loaves of bread. A suspect, Habibu Sabitu, 28, was arrested.

In Plateau State, 51-year-old Chinedu Uzor was arrested at Katako Market, Jos, with 157,100 capsules of tramadol.

The NDLEA also said it destroyed 4,832.56kg of skunk, a form of cannabis, on farms in Usen Forest, Igwe-Oke Forest and Ogboha Forest in Ovia South-West, Owan East and Owan West Local Government Areas of Edo State.

A 39-year-old suspect, Sunday Segun, was arrested on Friday, September 11, during the operation.

In Ondo State, NDLEA operatives acting on intelligence raided a residence along Oke-Iya, Ijoka Road, Akure, on Wednesday, September 9.

The officers recovered 186kg of skunk concealed in the boot of a Toyota Avalon car with registration number ABJ 917 FV.

A 58-year-old suspect, Paul Ogbuwala, was arrested and allegedly planning to move the consignment to Jos for onward distribution, the agency said.

In Kaduna State, a female suspect, Hannah Michael, was arrested at Gonin Gora with 369.6kg of cannabis.

In Bayelsa State, four suspects, including 70-year-old Godwoman Gboriye, were arrested at Ovom, Yenagoa, with 110 bags of cannabis weighing 876kg.

The other suspects were identified as Motombo Silver, 44; Pere Andrew, 39; and Keme Andrew, 43.

The agency also said its commands and formations across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse sensitisation activities in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities during the week.

The activities included a WADA enlightenment lecture for students and staff of Mezube Islamiyya Academy, Tudun Wada, Kano; an advocacy visit to the management of Cross River State College of Health Technology, Calabar; and a visit by Rikkos traditional rulers to the NDLEA Academy in Jos.

The Zone 4 Command also paid a WADA advocacy visit to the Emir of Keffi, Alhaji Shehu Chindo Yamusa III, in Nasarawa State.

Commending the officers and men of the various commands involved in the operations, the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), urged them to sustain the agency’s balanced approach to drug control.

He charged them to “continue to shut every pipeline being used by drug cartels, whether at the airports, seaports, land borders, or in the hinterland where cannabis is cultivated.”