The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted two shipments of synthetic cannabis, popularly known as Colorado or Colos, concealed in consolidated cargoes from the United Kingdom.
The agency also recovered other consignments of the illicit substance hidden inside music speakers at two motor parks in Lagos, arresting at least seven suspects linked to the seized cargoes.
In a statement Sunday, NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi said operatives at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos, intercepted a UK-bound consignment containing 27 parcels of Colorado weighing 32.20 kilograms.
A real estate agent, Abideen Jide Salami, was arrested on Wednesday, Sept. 9, after he arrived to collect a large luggage containing the illicit substance using a secret collection code reportedly sent by his brother based in the United Kingdom.
A follow-up operation involving another UK consignment led to the arrest of Nurudeen Abiodun Kadiri, 44, who was identified as the designated recipient of another shipment containing 12.25 kilograms of Colorado. Kadiri reportedly said the consignment was sent to him by his brother in the UK.
Meanwhile, operatives from the agency’s Directorate of Operations and General Investigation intercepted a music speaker containing three packs of Colorado at a motor park in Maza Maza, Lagos. The consignment was reportedly headed to Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, and ultimately Liberia.
A tour agent, Ifeanyi Obed Augustine, 41, and the owner of the consignment, Obasi Ugochuckwu, 46, were arrested during a sting operation at a nearby eatery.
In a separate operation at Iddo motor park, a suspect, Ifeanyi Nwokolo Henry, was arrested Friday, Sept. 11, while allegedly attempting to dispatch 2.1 kilograms of Colorado to Kano.
The agency said its operations across several states also led to the recovery of more than 2.3 tonnes of assorted illicit drugs and the arrest of several suspects.
In Delta State, separate operations in Ughelli and Asaba resulted in the seizure of ampoules of pentazocine injection, codeine syrup, tramadol, diazepam, flunitrazepam, also known as Hypnox, and MDMA, popularly called Molly. Some of the substances were concealed in music speakers.
Two suspects, Emeka Oji and Chukwuebuka Anedi, were arrested in connection with the seizures.
In Kano State, a raid in Sabon Gari led to the arrest of 20-year-old Saidu Adamu, who was found with 785,000 capsules of pregabalin weighing 669.425 kilograms.
A stop-and-search operation along the Zaria-Kano-Hadejia road also led to the seizure of 1,700 tablets of diazepam concealed inside loaves of bread. The drugs were allegedly being transported by 28-year-old Habibu Sabitu.
In Katako Market, Jos, Plateau State, NDLEA operatives arrested 51-year-old Chinedu Uzor with 157,100 capsules of tramadol.
The agency also continued its operations against illicit cannabis cultivation, destroying 4,832.56 kilograms of skunk cannabis on farms in Usen Forest, Igwe-Oke Forest and Ogboha Forest in Edo State.
The farms were located in Ovia South West, Owan East and Owan West local government areas. A 39-year-old suspect, Sunday Segun, was arrested during the operations on Friday, Sept. 11.
In Ondo State, NDLEA officers acting on intelligence raided a residence along Oke-Iya, Ijoka Road, Akure, on Wednesday, Sept. 9. They recovered 186 kilograms 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. The agency said he 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 369.6 kilograms of cannabis.
In Bayelsa State, four suspects were arrested at Ovom, Yenagoa, with 110 bags of cannabis weighing 876 kilograms. They were identified as 70-year-old Godwoman Gboriye, 44-year-old Motombo Silver, 39-year-old Pere Andrew and 43-year-old Keme Andrew.
The NDLEA also said its commands and formations continued to conduct War Against Drug Abuse sensitisation activities in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities across the country.
The activities included an enlightenment lecture for students and staff of Mezube Islamiyya Academy in Tudun Wada, Kano; an advocacy visit to the management of Cross River State College of Health Technology in Calabar; and a visit by Rikkos traditional rulers to the NDLEA Academy in Jos to thank the agency for allowing community members to use its clinic.
The agency’s Zone 4 Command also paid an advocacy visit to the Emir of Keffi, Alhaji Shehu Chindo Yamusa III, in Nasarawa State.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers involved in the operations across Lagos, Ondo, Edo, Delta, Kaduna, Plateau, Bayelsa and Kano.
Marwa urged them and other personnel nationwide to sustain the agency’s balanced approach to drug control.
He charged officers to continue shutting down pipelines used by drug cartels at airports, seaports, land borders and in areas where cannabis is cultivated.
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