NDLEA seizes UK-bound cannabis, drugs hidden in bread, speakers

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Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have intercepted two shipments of synthetic cannabis, popularly known as Colorado, weighing 44.45kg in consolidated cargoes from the United Kingdom.

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The NDLEA also recovered two consignments of the substance concealed in music speakers at two motor parks in Lagos, with at least seven suspects linked to the seized consignments arrested.

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The agency disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday by its Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.

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“At the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja Lagos, NDLEA operatives intercepted a UK-inbound consignment concealing 27 parcels of colos weighing 32.20kg, while a real estate agent Abideen Jide Salami, who showed up with a secret collection code relayed from his UK-based brother to collect a large luggage containing the illicit substance was arrested on Wednesday 9th September 2026,” the statement read.

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“A follow-up operation stemming from a second UK consignment led operatives to the designated recipient of another consignment of Colorado weighing 12.25kg.

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“The suspect Nurudeen Abiodun Kadiri, 44, said the consignment was sent to him by his brother in the UK.”

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Meanwhile, operatives of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation intercepted a music speaker rigged with three packs of Colorado at a motor park in Maza-Maza, Lagos.

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The consignment was reportedly headed to Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, and ultimately Liberia.

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A tour agent, Ifeanyi Obed Augustine, 41, and the owner of the consignment, Obasi Ugochukwu, 46, were arrested after a sting operation at a nearby eatery, according to the NDLEA.

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In a separate operation at Iddo Park, the agency said a suspect, Ifeanyi Nwokolo Henry, was arrested on Friday, September 11, while attempting to dispatch 2.1kg of Colorado to Kano.

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In Delta State, two separate arrests in Ughelli and Asaba led to the recovery of ampoules of pentazocine injection, codeine syrup, tramadol, diazepam, flunitrazepam, also known as Hypnox, and MDMA, popularly known as Molly.

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Several of the substances were concealed in music speakers, while two suspects, Emeka Oji and Chukwuebuka Anedi, were arrested.

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In Kano, a raid in Sabon Gari led to the arrest of 20-year-old Saidu Adamu with 785,000 capsules of pregabalin weighing 669.425kg.

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A stop-and-search operation along the Zaria-Kano-Hadejia Road also led to the seizure of 1,700 tablets of diazepam concealed in loaves of bread from a suspect, Habibu Sabitu, 28.

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In Plateau State, 51-year-old Chinedu Uzor was arrested at Katako Market, Jos, with 157,100 capsules of tramadol, the agency said.

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The NDLEA also said it destroyed 4,832.56kg of skunk, a form of cannabis, on farms at Usen Forest, Igwe-Oke Forest and Ogboha Forest in Ovia South-West, Owan East and Owan West Local Government Areas of Edo State.

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A suspect, 39-year-old Sunday Segun, was arrested on Friday, September 11, during the operation.

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In Ondo State, NDLEA officers acting on intelligence raided a residence along Oke-Iya, Ijoka Road, Akure, on Wednesday, September 9.

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The officers recovered 186kg of skunk concealed in the boot of a Toyota Avalon car with registration number ABJ 917 FV.

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A 58-year-old suspect, Paul Ogbuwala, was arrested and allegedly planning to move the consignment to Jos for onward distribution, the agency said.

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In Kaduna State, a female suspect, Hannah Michael, was arrested at Gonin Gora with 369.6kg of cannabis.

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In Bayelsa State, four suspects, including 70-year-old Godwoman Gboriye, were arrested at Ovom, Yenagoa, with 110 bags of cannabis weighing 876kg.

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The other suspects were identified as Motombo Silver, 44; Pere Andrew, 39; and Keme Andrew, 43.

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The agency also said its commands and formations across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse sensitisation activities in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities during the week.

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The activities included a WADA enlightenment lecture for students and staff of Mezube Islamiyya Academy, Tudun Wada, Kano; an advocacy visit to the management of Cross River State College of Health Technology, Calabar; and a visit by Rikkos traditional rulers to the NDLEA Academy in Jos.

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The Zone 4 Command also paid a WADA advocacy visit to the Emir of Keffi, Alhaji Shehu Chindo Yamusa III, in Nasarawa State.

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Commending the officers and men of the various commands involved in the operations, the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), urged them to sustain the agency’s balanced approach to drug control.

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He charged them 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.”

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