By Yusuf Bello
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted two consignments of synthetic cannabis, popularly known as Colorado or Colos, weighing a combined 44.45kg and concealed in consolidated cargoes from the United Kingdom.
The agency also recovered two other consignments of Colorado hidden in music speakers at motor parks in Lagos, with at least seven suspects arrested in connection with the seizures.
At the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, NDLEA operatives intercepted 27 parcels of Colorado weighing 32.20kg in a UK-bound consignment.
A real estate agent, Abideen Jide Salami, was arrested on Wednesday after he arrived to collect the luggage containing the illicit substance using a secret collection code reportedly sent by his brother based in the UK.
In a follow-up operation linked to another UK consignment, NDLEA operatives arrested the designated recipient, Nurudeen Abiodun Kadiri, 44, after recovering 12.25kg of Colorado.
Kadiri reportedly told investigators that his brother in the UK sent the consignment.
Meanwhile, operatives of the agency’s 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 ultimately 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 Park, Lagos, another suspect, Ifeanyi Nwokolo Henry, was arrested on Friday 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 ampoules of pentazocine injection, codeine syrup, tramadol, diazepam, flunitrazepam (Hypnox) and MDMA, also known as Molly.
Some of the drugs were concealed inside music speakers, while two suspects, Emeka Oji and Chukwuebuka Anedi, were arrested.
In Kano, NDLEA operatives raided a location in Sabon Gari and arrested a 20-year-old suspect, 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 concealed inside loaves of bread. A 28-year-old suspect, Habibu Sabitu, was arrested.
In Plateau State, a 51-year-old suspect, Chinedu Uzor, was arrested 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 on 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.
In Ondo State, NDLEA officers acting on intelligence raided a residence along Oke-Iya, Ijoka Road, Akure, on Wednesday and recovered 186kg of skunk concealed in the boot of a Toyota Avalon car marked ABJ 917 FV.
The suspect, 58-year-old Paul Ogbuwala, was arrested and 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.
Similarly, four suspects were arrested at Ovom, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, with 110 bags of cannabis weighing 876kg.
Those arrested included 70-year-old Godwoman Gboriye, Motombo Silver, 44, Pere Andrew, 39, and Keme Andrew, 43.
Beyond enforcement operations, NDLEA commands and formations across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities.
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 traditional rulers from Rikkos 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 operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), urged personnel across the country to sustain the agency’s balanced approach to drug control.
Marwa charged them to continue shutting down pipelines used by drug cartels, whether through airports, seaports, land borders or the hinterland where cannabis is cultivated.
