NDLEA intercepts Colos shipments from UK, uncovers opioids in bread, speakers
… Arrests real estate agent, grandmother, others; recovers over 2.3 tonnes of illicit drugs across eight states
Oru Leonard
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), have intercepted two shipments of synthetic cannabis, popularly known as Colorado or “Colos,” concealed in consolidated cargoes from the United Kingdom, while two other consignments of the illicit substance hidden in music speakers were also recovered from motor parks in Lagos.
The operations, which resulted in the arrest of at least seven suspects linked to the seized consignments, were part of a series of raids and interdiction operations across Lagos, Ondo, Edo, Delta, Kaduna, Plateau, Bayelsa and Kano states, yielding more than 2.3 tonnes of assorted illicit drugs.
At the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, NDLEA operatives 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, 2026, after he arrived to collect a large luggage containing the illicit substance using a secret collection code reportedly relayed by his brother based in the UK.
In a follow-up operation linked to another UK consignment, operatives traced and arrested Nurudeen Abiodun Kadiri, 44, who was designated to receive another Colorado consignment weighing 12.25kg. The suspect reportedly told investigators that his brother in the UK sent the package.
Meanwhile, operatives of the Agency’s Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) intercepted a music speaker rigged with three packs of Colorado at a motor park in Maza Maza, Lagos, en route 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 following a sting operation at a nearby eatery.
In another operation at Iddo Park, Lagos, Ifeanyi Nwokolo Henry was arrested on Friday, September 11, while allegedly attempting to dispatch 2.1kg of Colorado to Kano.
Drugs concealed in speakers, bread
In Delta State, separate operations in Ughelli and Asaba led to the seizure of ampoules of pentazocine injection, codeine syrup, tramadol, diazepam, flunitrazepam (Hypnox) and MDMA, popularly known as Molly. Some of the drugs were concealed in music speakers.
Two suspects, Emeka Oji and Chukwuebuka Anedi, were arrested in connection with the seizures.
In Kano State, a raid at Sabon Gari resulted in the arrest of 20-year-old Saidu Adamu, who was found with 785,000 capsules of Pregabalin weighing 669.425kg.
Also in Kano, a stop-and-search operation along the Zaria–Kano–Hadejia road led to the seizure of 1,700 tablets of diazepam concealed inside loaves of bread. The consignment was recovered from Habibu Sabitu, 28.
In Plateau State, 51-year-old Chinedu Uzor was arrested at Katako Market, Jos, with 157,100 capsules of tramadol.
NDLEA destroys cannabis farms.
The Agency also sustained its campaign against illicit cannabis cultivation, destroying 4,832.56kg of skunk on cannabis 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 suspect, Sunday Segun, 39, was arrested during the operations on Friday, September 11.
In Ondo State, NDLEA officers acting on credible intelligence raided a residence along Oke-Iya, Ijoka Road, Akure, on Wednesday, September 9.
The operation led to the recovery of 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. He was allegedly 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.
Similarly, in Bayelsa State, four suspects, including 70-year-old Godwoman Gboriye, were arrested at Ovom, Yenagoa, with 110 bags of cannabis weighing 876kg.
Others arrested were Motombo Silver, 44; Pere Andrew, 39; and Keme Andrew, 43.
Beyond interdiction and seizures, NDLEA Commands and formations across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities.
Activities during the week 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 to appreciate the Agency for allowing community members 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 Keffi, Nasarawa State, among other engagements.
Commending officers and men of DOGI, MMIA and the Ondo, Edo, Delta, Kaduna, Plateau, Bayelsa and Kano Commands for the successful operations, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), urged them to sustain the Agency’s balanced approach to drug control.
Marwa charged officers across the country to continue shutting down pipelines being used by drug cartels, whether through airports, seaports, land borders or the hinterland where cannabis is cultivated.
(NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja
September 13, 2026)
