Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted two consignments of synthetic cannabis, popularly known as Colorado, weighing 44.45kg in consolidated cargoes imported from the United Kingdom.
The agency also recovered additional consignments of Colorado concealed in music speakers at two motor parks in Lagos State, leading to the arrest of several suspects linked to the shipments.
The NDLEA disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday by its Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.
According to the agency, operatives at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, 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, after allegedly arriving with a secret collection code sent by his brother in the UK to collect a luggage containing the illicit substance.
The agency said a follow-up operation linked to another UK consignment led to the arrest of 44-year-old Nurudeen Abiodun Kadiri, who allegedly came to collect a separate shipment containing 12.25kg of Colorado.
Kadiri reportedly told investigators that his brother in the UK sent the consignment to him.
Meanwhile, operatives of the 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 destined for Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, and eventually Liberia.
The NDLEA said 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.
In another operation at Iddo Park, operatives arrested Ifeanyi Nwokolo Henry on Friday, September 11, while allegedly attempting to dispatch 2.1kg of Colorado to Kano State.
Arrests, drug seizures in other states
In Delta State, separate operations in Ughelli and Asaba resulted in the arrest of two suspects, Emeka Oji and Chukwuebuka Anedi.
The NDLEA said the operations led to the recovery of ampoules of pentazocine injection, codeine syrup, tramadol, diazepam, flunitrazepam, also known as Hypnox, and MDMA, popularly called Molly.
Some of the substances were reportedly concealed inside music speakers.
In Kano State, operatives raided a location in Sabon Gari and arrested 20-year-old Saidu Adamu with 785,000 capsules of pregabalin weighing 669.425kg.
Another operation along the Zaria-Kano-Hadejia Road resulted in the seizure of 1,700 tablets of diazepam allegedly concealed inside loaves of bread. A 28-year-old suspect, Habibu Sabitu, was arrested.
In Plateau State, 51-year-old Chinedu Uzor was arrested at Katako Market, Jos, with 157,100 capsules of tramadol, according to the agency.
The NDLEA also reported the destruction of 4,832.56kg of skunk, a strain of cannabis, during raids on 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 operatives acting on intelligence raided a residence along Oke-Iya, Ijoka Road, Akure, on Wednesday, September 9.
The officers recovered 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 allegedly planned to transport 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.
Four suspects were also arrested at Ovom, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, with 110 bags of cannabis weighing 876kg.
They were identified as 70-year-old Godwoman Gboriye, Motombo Silver, 44, Pere Andrew, 39, and Keme Andrew, 43.
NDLEA intensifies anti-drug campaign
The agency said its commands and formations across the country also continued their War Against Drug Abuse sensitisation campaigns 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 Zone 4 Command also paid a WADA advocacy visit to the Emir of Keffi, Alhaji Shehu Chindo Yamusa III, in Nasarawa State.
Commending the officers and men involved in the various operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), urged them to sustain the agency’s balanced approach to drug control.
Marwa charged the operatives to continue shutting down drug trafficking routes used by criminal networks across airports, seaports, land borders and areas where cannabis is cultivated.
