…Real estate agent, 70-year-old woman, others arrested as agency recovers over 2.3 tonnes of illicit drugs in nationwide raids

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted two consignments of synthetic cannabis, popularly known as Colorado or Colos, concealed in consolidated cargoes from the United Kingdom, while two other consignments of the illicit substance hidden in music speakers were recovered from two motor parks in Lagos.
At least seven suspects linked to the seized consignments have been arrested as the agency also recovered more than 2.3 tonnes of assorted illicit drugs in raids across Lagos, Ondo, Edo, Delta, Kaduna, Plateau, Bayelsa and Kano states.

At the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, NDLEA operatives intercepted a UK-bound consignment containing 27 parcels of Colorado weighing 32.20kg.
A real estate agent, Abideen Jide Salami, was arrested on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, after he arrived to collect a large luggage containing the illicit substance using a secret collection code reportedly relayed by his brother based in the UK.

A follow-up operation linked to another UK consignment led operatives to the intended recipient of a second shipment containing 12.25kg of Colorado.
The suspect, 44-year-old Nurudeen Abiodun Kadiri, reportedly told investigators that his brother in the UK sent him the consignment.

Meanwhile, operatives of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) intercepted a music speaker rigged with three packs of Colorado at a motor park in Maza Maza, Lagos. The consignment was reportedly destined for Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, and ultimately Liberia.
A tour agent, Ifeanyi Obed Augustine, 41, and the owner of the consignment, Obasi Ugochukwu, 46, were arrested during a sting operation at a nearby eatery.

In a separate operation at Iddo Park, operatives on Friday, September 11, arrested Ifeanyi Nwokolo Henry while he was allegedly attempting to dispatch 2.1kg of Colorado to Kano.

Drug haul uncovered in Delta, Kano, Plateau

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, popularly known as Molly.
Some of the drugs were concealed in music speakers, while two suspects, Emeka Oji and Chukwuebuka Anedi, were arrested.

In Kano, a raid in Sabon Gari led to the arrest of 20-year-old Saidu Adamu, who was allegedly found with 785,000 capsules of pregabalin weighing 669.425kg.
Similarly, a stop-and-search operation along the Zaria-Kano-Hadejia road led to the seizure of 1,700 tablets of diazepam concealed inside loaves of bread. The drugs were recovered from 28-year-old Habibu Sabitu.

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

NDLEA destroys cannabis farms, seizes hundreds of kilogrammes

The agency also sustained its crackdown on illicit cannabis cultivation, destroying 4,832.56kg of skunk on cannabis farms in Usen Forest, Igwe-Oke Forest and Ogboha Forest in 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 operations 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, recovering 186kg of skunk concealed in the boot of a Toyota Avalon marked ABJ 917 FV.
The 58-year-old suspect, Paul Ogbuwala, was arrested and was allegedly planning to transport the consignment to Jos for onward distribution.

In Kaduna, a female suspect, Hannah Michael, was arrested at Gonin Gora with 369.6kg of cannabis.
In Bayelsa State, four suspects, including 70-year-old Godwoman Gboriye, were arrested 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.

NDLEA intensifies anti-drug campaign

Alongside its enforcement operations, the agency said its commands and formations across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities during the week.
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 to thank the agency for allowing community members access to its 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 DOGI, MMIA and the Ondo, Edo, Delta, Kaduna, Plateau, Bayelsa and Kano commands for the operations, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), urged them to sustain the agency’s balanced approach to drug control.

Marwa charged the officers to continue shutting down pipelines used by drug cartels, whether through airports, seaports, land borders or the hinterland where cannabis is cultivated.