Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted synthetic cannabis shipments from the United Kingdom and seized more than 2.3 tonnes of assorted illicit drugs in operations across eight states.
The operations, conducted between September 9 and 11, 2026, also led to the arrest of several suspects, including a real estate agent, a 70-year-old woman and other alleged drug traffickers.
At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, NDLEA operatives intercepted 27 parcels of synthetic cannabis, commonly known as Colorado or Colos, weighing 32.20 kilograms.
The consignment arrived from the United Kingdom in consolidated cargo. A real estate agent, Abideen Jide Salami, was arrested on September 9 after allegedly presenting a secret collection code sent by his UK-based brother.
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A follow-up operation linked to another UK shipment led to the arrest of Nurudeen Abiodun Kadiri, 44. NDLEA said operatives recovered 12.25 kilograms of Colorado from the consignment, which Kadiri said his brother sent from the UK.
Meanwhile, NDLEA’s Directorate of Operations and General Investigation intercepted another Colorado shipment concealed inside a music speaker at Maza Maza Motor Park in Lagos.
The consignment contained three packs of Colorado and was reportedly destined for Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, before onward movement to Liberia. Tour agent Ifeanyi Obed Augustine, 41, and the alleged owner, Obasi Ugochukwu, 46, were arrested during a sting operation.
At Iddo motor park, NDLEA operatives also arrested Ifeanyi Nwokolo Henry on September 11 while he allegedly attempted to dispatch 2.1 kilograms of Colorado to Kano.
State 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.
Several of the drugs were concealed inside music speakers. NDLEA arrested two suspects identified as Emeka Oji and Chukwuebuka Anedi.
In Kano State, a raid in Sabon Gari led to the arrest of 20-year-old Saidu Adamu with 785,000 capsules of pregabalin weighing 669.425 kilograms.
A separate stop-and-search operation along the Zaria-Kano-Hadejia road resulted in the seizure of 1,700 diazepam tablets concealed inside loaves of bread. NDLEA arrested 28-year-old Habibu Sabitu in connection with the consignment.
In Jos, Plateau State, NDLEA operatives arrested 51-year-old Chinedu Uzor at Katako Market with 157,100 capsules of tramadol.
The agency also intensified operations against illicit cannabis cultivation in Edo State, destroying 4,832.56 kilograms of cannabis, known as skunk.
The cannabis was destroyed on farms in Usen Forest, Igwe-Oke Forest and Ogboha Forest across Ovia South West, Owan East and Owan West Local Government Areas.
NDLEA arrested 39-year-old Sunday Segun during the operations on September 11.
In Ondo State, officers acting on intelligence raided a residence along Oke-Iya, Ijoka Road, Akure, on September 9.
They recovered 186 kilograms of skunk concealed in the boot of a Toyota Avalon marked ABJ 917 FV. NDLEA arrested 58-year-old Paul Ogbuwala, who was allegedly preparing to move the cannabis to Jos for distribution.
In Kaduna State, NDLEA arrested Hannah Michael at Gonin Gora with 369.6 kilograms of cannabis.
In Bayelsa State, four suspects were arrested at Ovom, Yenagoa, with 110 bags of cannabis weighing 876 kilograms.
The suspects include 70-year-old Godwoman Gboriye, 44-year-old Motombo Silver, 39-year-old Pere Andrew and 43-year-old Keme Andrew.
Nationwide Campaigns
The seizures highlight the variety of methods used to conceal and transport illicit drugs, including consolidated cargo, vehicles, music speakers and food items.
NDLEA has continued combining interdiction operations with public drug-prevention campaigns under its War Against Drug Abuse programme, known as WADA.
During the week, the agency conducted WADA sensitisation activities in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities.
Activities included an 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 thank the agency for allowing community members to use its clinic.
The NDLEA Zone 4 Command also paid a WADA advocacy visit to the Emir of Keffi, Alhaji Shehu Chindo Yamusa III, in Keffi, Nasarawa State.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), commended officers involved in the operations.
Marwa urged them to maintain what he described as the agency’s balanced approach to drug control.
He also directed officers to continue disrupting pipelines used by drug cartels at airports, seaports, land borders and inland cannabis-growing areas.
The latest NDLEA operations demonstrate the agency’s continued focus on both disrupting illicit drug supply networks and preventing drug abuse across Nigeria.
