The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has intercepted shipments of synthetic cannabis, opioids, and other illegal narcotics hidden in loaves of bread, music speakers, and consolidated cargoes in operations spanning multiple states.
The agency reported on Sunday that two shipments of synthetic cannabis, commonly referred to as Colorado or Colos, were seized by its agents from the United Kingdom, while two further shipments concealed in music speakers were found in Lagos auto parks.
According to NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi, at least seven people connected to the confiscated shipments were taken into custody during the raids.
Operatives stopped a consolidated shipment headed for the UK that included 27 packages of Colorado weighing 32.20 kg in the import yard of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos.
According to Babafemi, Abideen Jide Salami, a real estate agent, was detained on Wednesday, September 9, after reportedly utilizing a secret collection code that his brother, who is based in the UK, had given him to pick up a huge bag that contained the illegal material.
He claimed that Nurudeen Abiodun Kadiri, 44, who was supposed to receive 12.25 kg of Colorado, was arrested as a result of a follow-up operation connected to another shipment from the UK.
The agency claims that Kadiri informed investigators that his brother in the UK had sent the package to him.
The statement stated in part, “On Wednesday, September 9, 2026, NDLEA agents intercepted a UK-inbound consignment at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, concealing 27 parcels of colos weighing 32.20 kg, while a real estate agent, Abideen Jide Salami, showed up with a secret collection code relayed from his UK-based brother to collect a large luggage containing the illegal substance.
In a different operation, at a car park in Maza-Maza, Lagos, agents from the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation discovered a music speaker that was loaded with three packs of Colorado.
According to reports, the shipment was headed for Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, and eventually Liberia.
During a sting operation at a nearby restaurant, Ifeanyi Augustine, 41, a travel agent, and Obasi Ugochuckwu, 46, the consignment’s owner, were taken into custody.
Ifeanyi Nwokolo Henry, another suspect, was detained on Friday, September 11, at Iddo Motor Park in Lagos while reportedly trying to transport 2.1 kg of Colorado to Kano.
Significant drug seizures were also reported in Delta State, according to Babafemi. Ampoules of pentazocine injection, codeine syrup, tramadol, diazepam, flunitrazepam, also known as Hypnox, and MDMA, better known as Molly, were recovered during separate operations in Ughelli and Asaba.
While two suspects, Emeka Oji and Chukwuebuka Anedi, were taken into custody, several of the drugs were hidden in music speakers.
During a raid in Sabon Gari, Kano State, NDLEA agents detained 20-year-old Saidu Adamu together with 785,000 pregabalin capsules weighing 669.425 kg.
Operatives found 1,700 diazepam tablets hidden within bread loaves during a different stop-and-search operation along the Zaria-Kano-Hadejia Road. Habibu Sabitu, a 28-year-old suspect, was allegedly transporting the cocaine.
Chinedu Uzor, a 51-year-old man in Plateau State, was taken into custody at Katako Market in Jos with 157,100 tramadol capsules.
4,832.56 kg of skunk were destroyed on cannabis fields in Usen Forest, Igwe-Oke Forest, and Ogboha Forest in Ovia Southwest, Owan East, and Owan West Local Government Areas of Edo State as part of the agency’s increased effort against illegal cannabis growing.
On Friday, September 11, Sunday Segun, a 39-year-old suspect, was taken into custody during the operation.
On Wednesday, September 9, NDLEA officers in Ondo State raided a home along Oke-Iya, Ijoka Road, Akure, based on intelligence. They found 186 kg of skunk hidden in the boot of a Toyota Avalon with the license plate ABJ 917 FV.
Paul Ogbuwala, 58, was found in possession of the drugs. According to the agency, Ogbuwala intended to deliver the shipment to Jos for further distribution.
Hannah Michael, a female suspect in Kaduna State, was apprehended at Gonin Gora with 369.6 kg of cannabis.
Four suspects, including Godwoman Gboriye, 70, were apprehended in Ovom, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, together with 110 bags containing 876 kg of cannabis.
Pere Andrew, 39, Keme Andrew, 43, and Motombo Silver, 44, were the other suspects.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.) commended the officers and men who participated in the operations and advised staff members nationwide to maintain the agency’s balanced approach to drug control.
Whether via airports, seaports, land borders, or the hinterland where cannabis is grown, Marwa ordered the agents to “continue to shut every pipeline being used by drug cartels.”
Additionally, he praised the excellent activities of the DOGI, MMIA, Ondo, Edo, Delta, Kaduna, Plateau, Bayelsa, and Kano Commands.
