The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intensified its crackdown on illicit drugs, intercepting multiple shipments of synthetic cannabis, popularly known as Colos or Colorado, from the United Kingdom and uncovering narcotics concealed in music speakers, loaves of bread and other unusual hiding places.
The latest operations resulted in the seizure of large quantities of synthetic cannabis and pharmaceutical drugs across several states, with at least seven suspects arrested in connection with some of the intercepted consignments.
NDLEA Colos Interception: UK Shipments Contain 44kg of Synthetic Cannabis
At the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, NDLEA operatives intercepted a UK-bound consolidated cargo containing 27 parcels of Colos weighing 32.20kg.
A real estate agent, Abideen Jide Salami, was arrested on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, after allegedly arriving to collect a large luggage containing the illicit substance.
The agency said Salami presented a secret collection code reportedly relayed to him by his brother based in the United Kingdom.
In a follow-up operation linked to another UK consignment, NDLEA operatives arrested Nurudeen Abiodun Kadiri, 44, after recovering another 12.25kg of Colorado.
Kadiri reportedly told investigators that his brother in the UK sent the consignment to him.
NDLEA operatives from the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) also intercepted a music speaker allegedly modified to conceal three packs of Colorado at a motor park in Maza Maza, Lagos.
The consignment was reportedly destined for Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, before ultimately being moved to Liberia.
A swift sting operation at a nearby eatery led to the arrest of tour agent Ifeanyi Obed Augustine, 41, and the alleged owner of the consignment, Obasi Ugochuckwu, 46.
In another operation at Iddo Park, Lagos, NDLEA operatives arrested Ifeanyi Nwokolo Henry on Friday, September 11, while he was allegedly attempting to dispatch 2.1kg of Colorado to Kano State.
The agency’s intensified operations extended beyond Lagos, with major drug seizures and arrests recorded in Delta, Kano, Plateau, Edo, Ondo, Kaduna and Bayelsa states.
In Delta State, separate operations in Ughelli and Asaba led to the seizure of ampoules of pentazocine injection, codeine syrup, tramadol, diazepam, flunitrazepam (Hypnox) and MDMA, also known as Molly.
Several of the substances were allegedly concealed inside music speakers.
Two suspects, Emeka Oji and Chukwuebuka Anedi, were arrested in connection with the seizures.
In Kano State, NDLEA operatives raided an area of Sabon Gari and arrested 20-year-old Saidu Adamu with a massive 785,000 capsules of Pregabalin weighing 669.425kg.
The agency also intercepted 1,700 tablets of diazepam during a stop-and-search operation along the Zaria-Kano-Hadejia road.
The tablets were allegedly concealed inside loaves of bread. A 28-year-old suspect, Habibu Sabitu, was arrested in connection with the seizure.
Meanwhile, in Katako Market, Jos, Plateau State, NDLEA operatives arrested 51-year-old Chinedu Uzor with 157,100 capsules of tramadol.
The agency also sustained its campaign against illicit cannabis cultivation, destroying 4,832.56kg of skunk cannabis during operations on farms in Usen Forest, Igwe-Oke Forest and Ogboha Forest.
The operations were conducted 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, September 11.
In Ondo State, NDLEA officers acting on credible intelligence raided a residence along Oke-Iya, Ijoka Road, Akure, on Wednesday, September 9.
The operation resulted in the recovery of 186kg of skunk concealed inside the boot of a Toyota Avalon marked ABJ 917 FV.
A 58-year-old suspect, Paul Ogbuwala, was arrested.
According to the agency, Ogbuwala was allegedly preparing to transport the cannabis to Jos for onward distribution.
In Kaduna State, a female suspect identified as Hannah Michael was arrested at Gonin Gora with 369.6kg of cannabis.
In Bayelsa State, NDLEA operatives arrested four suspects at Ovom, Yenagoa, after recovering 110 bags of cannabis weighing 876kg.
The suspects were identified as 70-year-old Godwoman Gboriye, Motombo Silver, 44, Pere Andrew, 39, and Keme Andrew, 43.
Beyond enforcement operations, the NDLEA said its commands and formations continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities across the country.
Recent activities included a WADA enlightenment 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.
The agency also hosted traditional rulers from Rikkos, who visited the NDLEA Academy in Jos to express appreciation for allowing community members to use the agency’s clinic.
The Zone 4 Command also paid a WADA advocacy visit to the Emir of Keffi, Alhaji Shehu Chindo Yamusa III, in Keffi, Nasarawa State.
Commending officers and personnel of the DOGI, MMIA, Ondo, Edo, Delta, Kaduna, Plateau, Bayelsa and Kano Commands for the successful operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), urged them to maintain the agency’s balanced approach to drug control.
Marwa charged officers to continue shutting down the pipelines used by drug cartels to move illicit substances into and across Nigeria.
He specifically called for sustained action at airports, seaports, land borders and inland locations where cannabis is cultivated.
The latest NDLEA Colos seizures, alongside the recovery of pharmaceutical drugs and cannabis in multiple states, highlight the agency’s continuing efforts to disrupt drug trafficking networks and prevent illicit substances from reaching communities across Nigeria.
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