NDLEA Intercepts UK-Bound Drugs, Uncovers Narcotics Stashed in Bread, Speakers

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have successfully thwarted two attempts to smuggle synthetic cannabis, known as Colorado, totaling 44.45kg, from the United Kingdom. In a separate development, the agency also discovered two drug consignments ingeniously hidden inside music speakers at two different motor parks in Lagos, leading to the arrest of at least seven individuals connected to these seizures.

Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA's Director of Media and Advocacy, confirmed these operations in a statement released on Sunday. At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Ikeja, Lagos, NDLEA agents intercepted a UK-origin consignment containing 27 parcels of Colorado, weighing 32.20kg. Abideen Jide Salami, a real estate agent who appeared with a secret collection code from his UK-based brother to retrieve the luggage, was arrested on Wednesday, September 9, 2026.

A subsequent operation, triggered by information about a second UK consignment of Colorado weighing 12.25kg, led operatives to Nurudeen Abiodun Kadiri, 44, the intended recipient. Kadiri reportedly stated that his brother in the UK sent him the package.

Further operations by the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation saw the interception of a music speaker containing three packs of Colorado at a Maza-Maza motor park in Lagos. This consignment was reportedly destined for Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, with a final destination in Liberia. Following a sting operation at a nearby eatery, tour agent Ifeanyi Obed Augustine, 41, and the consignment owner, Obasi Ugochukwu, 46, were taken into custody by the NDLEA. Additionally, at Iddo Park, Ifeanyi Nwokolo Henry was apprehended on Friday, September 11, while attempting to dispatch 2.1kg of Colorado to Kano.

In Delta State, two distinct arrests in Ughelli and Asaba resulted in the recovery of various illicit substances, including pentazocine injection ampoules, codeine syrup, tramadol, diazepam, flunitrazepam (Hypnox), and MDMA (Molly). Many of these drugs were also concealed within music speakers. Emeka Oji and Chukwuebuka Anedi were arrested in connection with these seizures.

Kano State witnessed a raid in Sabon Gari, leading to the arrest of 20-year-old Saidu Adamu with 785,000 capsules of pregabalin, weighing 669.425kg. A separate stop-and-search operation on the Zaria-Kano-Hadejia Road resulted in the confiscation of 1,700 diazepam tablets hidden inside loaves of bread from Habibu Sabitu, 28.

In Plateau State, 51-year-old Chinedu Uzor was arrested at Katako Market, Jos, in possession of 157,100 capsules of tramadol. The agency also carried out 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. During this operation, 39-year-old Sunday Segun was arrested on Friday, September 11.

Ondo State also saw action, with NDLEA officers acting on intelligence to raid a residence along Oke-Iya, Ijoka Road, Akure, on Wednesday, September 9. There, they recovered 186kg of skunk concealed in the boot of a Toyota Avalon car (registration number ABJ 917 FV). Paul Ogbuwala, 58, was arrested, allegedly planning to transport the consignment to Jos for onward distribution.

In Kaduna State, Hannah Michael was arrested at Gonin Gora with 369.6kg of cannabis. Bayelsa State recorded the arrest of four suspects, including 70-year-old Godwoman Gboriye, at Ovom, Yenagoa, with 110 bags of cannabis weighing 876kg. The other suspects were identified as Motombo Silver, 44; Pere Andrew, 39; and Keme Andrew, 43.

The NDLEA further reported that its commands nationwide continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation efforts in schools, places of worship, workplaces, and local communities. These activities included an enlightenment lecture at Mezube Islamiyya Academy, Tudun Wada, Kano; an advocacy visit to the Cross River State College of Health Technology, Calabar; and a visit by Rikkos traditional rulers to the NDLEA Academy in Jos. The Zone 4 Command also engaged with the Emir of Keffi, Alhaji Shehu Chindo Yamusa III, in Nasarawa State, for a WADA advocacy visit.

Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, commended the officers and personnel involved in these operations. He urged them to maintain the agency's comprehensive approach to drug control, emphasizing the need to continuously disrupt drug cartels' pipelines, whether at airports, seaports, land borders, or in cannabis cultivation areas in the hinterlands.