NDLEA Intercepts UK Shipments, Seizes Over 2.3 Tonnes of Illicit Drugs

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has intercepted two consignments of synthetic cannabis, popularly known as Colorado or “Colos”, shipped from the United Kingdom.

The seizures formed part of nationwide operations that yielded more than 2.3 tonnes of assorted illicit drugs across several states.

The operations also led to the arrest of a real estate agent, a 70-year-old woman and several other suspects, according to the agency.

In Lagos, NDLEA operatives intercepted a UK-bound consignment at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja.

The shipment contained 27 parcels of Colorado weighing 32.20kg.

A real estate agent, Abideen Jide Salami, was arrested on Wednesday, September 9, after allegedly arriving to collect the consignment.

NDLEA said Salami used a secret collection code reportedly sent to him by his brother in the UK.

The agency later uncovered another consignment linked to the same route and arrested 44-year-old Nurudeen Abiodun Kadiri.

Operatives recovered 12.25kg of Colorado from the shipment, while the suspect reportedly told investigators that his brother in the UK had sent it to him.

The agency’s Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, DOGI, also intercepted another Colorado consignment at Maza Maza motor park in Lagos.

The drugs were concealed inside music speakers and were allegedly destined for Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, before onward movement to Liberia.

Three packs of Colorado were recovered from the consignment.

A sting operation at a nearby eatery subsequently led to the arrest of tour agent Ifeanyi Obed Augustine, 41, and the alleged owner of the shipment, Obasi Ugochuckwu, 46.

The agency recorded another seizure at Iddo Park, Lagos, on Friday, September 11.

Operatives arrested Ifeanyi Nwokolo Henry while he allegedly attempted to dispatch 2.1kg of Colorado to Kano.

The crackdown extended beyond Lagos as NDLEA teams continued operations in other parts of the country.

In Delta State, separate operations in Ughelli and Asaba produced seizures of several controlled and illicit substances.

They included pentazocine injection, codeine syrup, tramadol, diazepam, flunitrazepam, popularly known as Hypnox, and MDMA, also called Molly.

NDLEA said some of the drugs were also concealed inside music speakers.

Two suspects, Emeka Oji and Chukwuebuka Anedi, were arrested in connection with the seizures.

The latest operations highlight the agency’s continued focus on intercepting illicit drug supplies before they reach their intended destinations.

They also expose the different methods traffickers use to conceal drugs, including hiding them inside household and electronic items and moving them through cargo and transport networks.

With the arrests and seizures recorded across multiple locations, NDLEA operatives are expected to continue tracing the networks behind the consignments and identifying other individuals linked to the trafficking operations.