Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have intercepted two consignments of synthetic cannabis, popularly known as Colorado or “Colos”, concealed in consolidated cargoes from the United Kingdom and arrested several suspects linked to the shipments.
The agency also recovered more than 2.3 tonnes of assorted illicit drugs in separate operations across Lagos, Ondo, Edo, Delta, Kaduna, Plateau, Bayelsa and Kano states.
The NDLEA disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday by its Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.
At the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, operatives intercepted 27 parcels of Colorado weighing 32.20kg in a consignment from the UK.
A real estate agent, Abideen Jide Salami, was subsequently 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.
In a follow-up operation involving another UK-bound consignment, NDLEA operatives traced and arrested Nurudeen Abiodun Kadiri, 44, who allegedly received 12.25kg of Colorado. The suspect reportedly told investigators that his brother in the UK sent the consignment to him.
The agency also intercepted a music speaker containing three parcels of Colorado at Maza Maza Motor Park, Lagos. The consignment was allegedly destined for Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, and subsequently Liberia.
A tour agent, Ifeanyi Obed Augustine, 41, and the alleged owner of the consignment, Obasi Ugochuckwu, 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 recovery of ampoules of pentazocine injection, codeine syrup, tramadol, diazepam, flunitrazepam, also known as Hypnox, and MDMA, commonly called Molly.
Some of the substances were concealed in music speakers, while two suspects, Emeka Oji and Chukwuebuka Anedi, were arrested.
In Kano State, NDLEA operatives raiding the Sabon Gari area arrested 20-year-old Saidu Adamu with 785,000 capsules of pregabalin weighing 669.425kg.
Similarly, a stop-and-search operation along the Zaria-Kano-Hadejia road led to the seizure of 1,700 tablets of diazepam allegedly concealed inside loaves of bread. A 28-year-old suspect, Habibu Sabitu, was arrested in connection with the consignment.
In Plateau State, operatives arrested 51-year-old Chinedu Uzor at Katako Market, Jos, with 157,100 capsules of tramadol.
The NDLEA also intensified operations against illicit cannabis cultivation, destroying 4,832.56kg of cannabis, locally known as skunk, 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, operatives acting on credible intelligence raided a residence along Oke-Iya, Ijoka Road, Akure, on Wednesday, September 9, and recovered 186kg of skunk concealed in the boot of a Toyota Avalon car.
The vehicle, marked ABJ 917 FV, was allegedly being used by 58-year-old Paul Ogbuwala, who was arrested while reportedly planning 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 included 70-year-old Godwoman Gboriye, Motombo Silver, 44, Pere Andrew, 39, and Keme Andrew, 43.
Meanwhile, the agency said its commands and formations across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse sensitisation campaigns in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities.
Among the activities were an awareness 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 to appreciate the agency for allowing members of the community access to its clinic.
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 involved in the operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), urged personnel to sustain the agency’s balanced approach to drug control.
Marwa directed them to continue disrupting drug trafficking networks and shutting down supply routes used by criminal syndicates at airports, seaports, land borders and in the hinterland where cannabis is cultivated.
