Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted 44.45kg of synthetic cannabis, popularly known as Colorado, in two consignments from the United Kingdom and arrested several suspects linked to the shipments.
The agency said the drugs were seized from consolidated cargoes at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, while separate consignments concealed inside music speakers were intercepted at two motor parks in the state.
The NDLEA disclosed the seizures in a statement issued on Sunday by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.
According to the agency, operatives at the import shed of the airport intercepted a UK consignment containing 27 parcels of Colorado weighing 32.20kg.
A real estate agent, Abideen Jide Salami, was subsequently arrested after allegedly arriving to collect the luggage using a collection code provided by his brother based in the UK.
The arrest took place on Wednesday, 9 September 2026, the agency said.
A follow-up investigation into another UK shipment led to the arrest of 44-year-old Nurudeen Abiodun Kadiri, who was identified as the intended recipient of a second consignment containing 12.25kg of Colorado.
The NDLEA said Kadiri told investigators that his brother in the UK had sent the package.
In another operation in Lagos, officers from the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation intercepted a music speaker containing three packs of Colorado at a motor park in Maza-Maza.
The consignment was reportedly being transported to Abidjan in Côte d’Ivoire, with Liberia identified as its eventual destination.
The agency said a tour agent, 41-year-old Ifeanyi Obed Augustine, and the alleged owner of the consignment, 46-year-old Obasi Ugochukwu, were arrested following a sting operation at a nearby restaurant.
At Iddo Park, another suspect, Ifeanyi Nwokolo Henry, was arrested on Friday, 11 September, while allegedly attempting to dispatch 2.1kg of Colorado to Kano.
Other drug seizures across states
The NDLEA reported further arrests and seizures in several states as part of its nationwide operations.
In Delta State, separate operations in Ughelli and Asaba resulted in the recovery of pentazocine injections, codeine syrup, tramadol, diazepam, flunitrazepam, also known as Hypnox, and MDMA, commonly called Molly.
The agency said some of the drugs were concealed inside music speakers. Two suspects, Emeka Oji and Chukwuebuka Anedi, were arrested.
In Kano State, NDLEA operatives raided an area of Sabon Gari and arrested 20-year-old Saidu Adamu with 785,000 capsules of pregabalin weighing 669.425kg.
A separate stop-and-search operation along the Zaria-Kano-Hadejia Road resulted in the seizure of 1,700 diazepam tablets allegedly concealed in loaves of bread. A 28-year-old suspect, Habibu Sabitu, was arrested.
In Plateau State, the agency said 51-year-old Chinedu Uzor was arrested at Katako Market in Jos with 157,100 capsules of tramadol.
The NDLEA also reported the destruction of 4,832.56kg of skunk, a form of cannabis, from farms in Usen Forest, Igwe-Oke Forest and Ogboha Forest across Ovia South-West, Owan East and Owan West Local Government Areas of Edo State.
A 39-year-old suspect, Sunday Segun, was arrested during the operation on Friday, 11 September.
In Ondo State, officers acting on intelligence raided a residence along Oke-Iya, Ijoka Road, Akure, on Wednesday, 9 September.
The operation led to the recovery of 186kg of skunk allegedly concealed in the boot of a Toyota Avalon. The NDLEA said 58-year-old Paul Ogbuwala was arrested and was allegedly preparing to transport the consignment to Jos for onward distribution.
In Kaduna State, a woman identified as Hannah Michael was arrested at Gonin Gora with 369.6kg of cannabis, according to the agency.
Meanwhile, four suspects were arrested at Ovom in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, where officers recovered 110 bags of cannabis weighing 876kg.
The suspects were identified as 70-year-old Godwoman Gboriye, 44-year-old Motombo Silver, 39-year-old Pere Andrew and 43-year-old Keme Andrew.
NDLEA continues anti-drug campaign
Beyond enforcement operations, the agency said its commands and formations continued with its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns in schools, religious centres, workplaces and communities.
Activities during the week included an awareness lecture for students and staff of Mezube Islamiyya Academy in Tudun Wada, Kano, and an advocacy visit to the management of Cross River State College of Health Technology in Calabar.
Traditional rulers from Rikkos also visited the NDLEA Academy in Jos, while the agency’s Zone 4 Command visited the Emir of Keffi, Alhaji Shehu Chindo Yamusa III, in Nasarawa State, as part of its WADA advocacy campaign.
The NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended the officers involved in the operations and urged them to maintain the agency’s approach to drug control.
Marwa called on personnel 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”.
