The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted two shipments of synthetic cannabis, commonly known as Colorado or “Colos,” from the United Kingdom, as part of a series of operations that resulted in the recovery of more than 2.3 tonnes of assorted illicit drugs across eight states.
NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, announced the developments in a statement on Sunday. According to Babafemi, the agency’s latest operations also led to the arrest of a 70-year-old woman, a real estate agent, a tour agent, and several other suspects.
At the import shed of Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Ikeja, Lagos, NDLEA operatives intercepted a consignment from the UK containing 27 parcels of Colorado, weighing 32.2kg. On September 9, real estate agent Abideen Jide Salami was arrested after allegedly arriving to collect the shipment, armed with a secret collection code reportedly sent by his UK-based brother.
A follow-up operation led to the arrest of 44-year-old Nurudeen Abiodun Kadiri, who was identified as the recipient of another 12.25kg Colorado consignment, also allegedly sent by his brother in the UK.
In Lagos, NDLEA officers intercepted another batch of Colorado concealed inside a music speaker at the Maza Maza motor park. The shipment, containing three packs of Colorado, was being transported to Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, with Liberia as the final destination. A sting operation at a nearby eatery resulted in the arrest of tour agent Ifeanyi Obed Augustine, 41, and Obasi Ugochukwu, 46, identified as the owner of the consignment.
Another suspect, Ifeanyi Nwokolo Henry, was arrested at Iddo motor park on September 11, allegedly while attempting to dispatch 2.1kg of Colorado to Kano.
In Delta State, separate arrests in Ughelli and Asaba led to the seizure of pentazocine injection ampoules, codeine syrup, tramadol, diazepam, flunitrazepam (Hypnox), and MDMA (Molly), many concealed inside music speakers. Two suspects, Emeka Oji and Chukwuebuka Anedi, were arrested in connection with these seizures.
One of the largest pharmaceutical drug busts occurred in Kano State, where NDLEA operatives raided the Sabon Gari area and arrested 20-year-old Saidu Adamu. The operation yielded 785,000 capsules of pregabalin weighing 669.4kg. Additionally, NDLEA officers on the Zaria-Kano-Hadejia road intercepted 1,700 tablets of diazepam hidden inside loaves of bread, seizing them from 28-year-old Habibu Sabitu.
In Plateau State, NDLEA operatives arrested Chinedu Uzor, 51, at Katako Market in Jos, recovering 157,100 capsules of tramadol.
The agency also intensified its campaign against illicit cannabis cultivation, particularly in Edo State, where NDLEA operatives destroyed 4,832.56kg of skunk from farms in Usen, Igwe-Oke, and Ogboha Forests. Sunday Segun, 39, was arrested during the operation on September 11.
In Ondo State, a raid on a residence along Oke-Iya, Ijoka Road, Akure, resulted in the recovery of 186kg of skunk hidden in the boot of a Toyota Avalon (ABJ 917 FV). Paul Ogbuwala, 58, was arrested for allegedly intending to transport the shipment to Jos for distribution.
Kaduna State operatives arrested Hannah Michael at Gonin Gora with 369.6kg of cannabis, while in Bayelsa State, four suspects—70-year-old Godwoman Gboriye, Motombo Silver (44), Pere Andrew (39), and Keme Andrew (43)—were apprehended in Ovom, Yenagoa, with 110 bags of cannabis weighing 876kg.
Babafemi emphasized that these seizures and arrests are part of the agency’s ongoing efforts to disrupt drug trafficking networks nationwide. He added that the NDLEA continues its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization campaigns in schools, religious centers, workplaces, and communities.
