The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, says it has intercepted two consignments of synthetic cannabis, popularly known as Colorado or Colos, shipped from the United Kingdom, while recovering more than 2.3 tonnes of assorted illicit drugs in operations across several states.
The agency said the Colorado consignments were concealed in consolidated cargoes, while other quantities of the substance were hidden inside music speakers and intercepted at motor parks in Lagos.
According to the NDLEA, a total of seven suspects linked to the seizures have so far been arrested, including a real estate agent and a 44-year-old man who allegedly received consignments from their brothers based in the UK.
At the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, operatives intercepted 27 parcels of Colorado weighing 32.20 kilogrammes in a UK-bound consolidated cargo.
A real estate agent, Abideen Jide Salami, was arrested on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, after allegedly arriving to collect a large luggage containing the drug using a secret collection code reportedly sent by his brother in the UK.
In a follow-up operation involving another UK consignment, NDLEA operatives arrested Nurudeen Abiodun Kadiri, 44, who was allegedly linked to another 12.25kg shipment of Colorado. The suspect reportedly told investigators that his brother in the UK sent the consignment.
The NDLEA Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, DOGI, also intercepted a music speaker containing three packs of Colorado at Maza Maza Motor Park in Lagos. The consignment was reportedly destined for Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, and subsequently Liberia.
A tour agent, Ifeanyi Obed Augustine, 41, and the alleged owner of the consignment, Obasi Ugochukwu, 46, were arrested during a sting operation at a nearby eatery.
At Iddo Motor Park, another suspect, Ifeanyi Nwokolo Henry, was arrested on Friday, September 11, while allegedly attempting to dispatch 2.1kg of Colorado to Kano.
In Delta State, separate operations in Ughelli and Asaba led to the seizure of various controlled substances, including pentazocine injections, codeine syrup, tramadol, diazepam, flunitrazepam, also known as Hypnox, and MDMA, popularly called Molly.
Some of the drugs were reportedly concealed inside music speakers. Two suspects, Emeka Oji and Chukwuebuka Anedi, were arrested in connection with the seizures.
In Kano State, NDLEA operatives raiding Sabon Gari arrested 20-year-old Saidu Adamu with 785,000 capsules of pregabalin weighing 669.425kg.
A separate stop-and-search operation along the Zaria-Kano-Hadejia road also led to the seizure of 1,700 diazepam tablets concealed inside loaves of bread. A 28-year-old suspect, Habibu Sabitu, was arrested.
In Plateau State, NDLEA operatives arrested 51-year-old Chinedu Uzor at Katako Market, Jos, with 157,100 capsules of tramadol.
The agency also intensified its campaign against illicit cannabis cultivation, destroying 4,832.56kg of skunk from cannabis farms in Usen Forest, Igwe-Oke Forest and Ogboha Forest in Edo State.
The operations covered Ovia South West, Owan East and Owan West Local Government Areas, with a 39-year-old suspect, Sunday Segun, arrested 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 resulted in the recovery of 186kg of skunk allegedly 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 transport the consignment to Jos for distribution.
In Kaduna State, a female suspect, Hannah Michael, was arrested at Gonin Gora with 369.6kg of cannabis.
Meanwhile, in Bayelsa State, NDLEA operatives arrested 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.
Beyond seizures and arrests, the NDLEA said its commands and formations across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitisation campaigns in schools, religious centres, workplaces and communities.
Activities during the week included a WADA 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, Calabar; and an engagement with traditional rulers from Rikkos who visited the NDLEA Academy in Jos.
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 the officers and personnel involved in the operations, the NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), urged commands across the country to sustain the agency’s balanced approach to drug control.
Marwa called for continued efforts to disrupt drug trafficking networks and block supply routes used by criminal groups through airports, seaports, land borders and areas where cannabis is cultivated.
The NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, issued the statement on Sunday, September 13, 2026, in Abuja.