Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have intercepted two shipments of synthetic cannabis, popularly known as Colorado or Colos, concealed in consolidated cargoes from the United Kingdom.
The agency also recovered two other consignments of Colorado hidden inside music speakers at two motor parks in Lagos, with at least seven suspects arrested in connection with the seizures.
The NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, Director, Media and Advocacy, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.
Babafemi said NDLEA operatives at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, intercepted a UK-bound consignment containing 27 parcels of Colorado weighing 32.20kg.
He said 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 sent by his brother based in the UK.
According to him, a follow-up operation linked to another UK consignment led to the arrest of its designated recipient, Nurudeen Abiodun Kadiri, 44, who was found with 12.25kg of Colorado.
Kadiri reportedly told NDLEA operatives that his brother in the UK sent him the consignment.
Babafemi added that operatives of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) intercepted a music speaker containing 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.
He said a tour agent, Ifeanyi Obed Augustine, 41, and the owner of the consignment, Obasi Ugochukwu, 46, were arrested following a sting operation at a nearby eatery.
In a separate operation at Iddo Park, Lagos, operatives arrested Ifeanyi Nwokolo Henry on Friday, September 11, while he allegedly attempted to dispatch 2.1kg of Colorado to Kano.
In Delta State, the agency said 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.
Some of the substances were allegedly concealed in music speakers, while two suspects, Emeka Oji and Chukwuebuka Anedi, were arrested.
In Kano, NDLEA operatives raided Sabon Gari and arrested a 20-year-old suspect, Saidu Adamu, with 785,000 capsules of pregabalin weighing 669.425kg.
The agency also said 1,700 tablets of diazepam concealed inside loaves of bread were seized during a stop-and-search operation along the Zaria-Kano-Hadejia road. A suspect, Habibu Sabitu, 28, was arrested.
In Plateau State, 51-year-old Chinedu Uzor was arrested at Katako Market, Jos, with 157,100 capsules of tramadol.
The agency also reported the destruction of 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 operation on Friday, September 11.
In Ondo State, NDLEA officers acting on intelligence raided a residence along Oke-Iya, Ijoka Road, Akure, on Wednesday, September 9.
The operation led to the recovery of 186kg of skunk concealed in the boot of a Toyota Avalon car with registration number ABJ 917 FV.
A 58-year-old suspect, Paul Ogbuwala, was arrested and was allegedly planning to move the consignment to Jos for onward distribution.
In Kaduna State, a female suspect, Hannah Michael, was arrested at Gonin Gora with 369.6kg of cannabis.
Similarly, four suspects, including 70-year-old Godwoman Gboriye, were arrested at Ovom, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, with 110 bags of cannabis weighing 876kg.
The other suspects were identified as Motombo Silver, 44; Pere Andrew, 39; and Keme Andrew, 43.
Meanwhile, the NDLEA 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.
The agency also said its Zone 4 Command paid a WADA advocacy visit to the Emir of Keffi, Alhaji Shehu Chindo Yamusa III, in Keffi, Nasarawa State.
Commending the officers and men of DOGI, MMIA, Ondo, Edo, Delta, Kaduna, Plateau, Bayelsa and Kano Commands, NDLEA Chairman and 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 at airports, seaports, land borders and in areas where cannabis is cultivated.
