Bread, speakers used to hide drugs as NDLEA arrests 22 suspects nationwide

Stanley Ihedigbo

A 70-year-old woman, a real estate agent and 20 others have been arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in a nationwide crackdown on drug trafficking, with more than 2.3 tonnes of assorted illicit drugs seized across Lagos, Ondo, Edo, Delta, Kaduna, Plateau, Bayelsa and Kano states.

The seizures included shipments of synthetic cannabis, popularly known as Colorado or “Colos”, intercepted from the United Kingdom, 785,000 capsules of pregabalin weighing 669.425kg, cannabis, tramadol, diazepam and other controlled substances concealed in music speakers, loaves of bread, vehicles and cargoes.

At the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, NDLEA operatives intercepted a UK-inbound consolidated cargo containing 27 parcels of “Colos” weighing 32.20kg.

A real estate agent, Abideen Jide Salami, was arrested on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, after allegedly arriving to collect the consignment using a secret collection code reportedly sent to him by his brother based in the United Kingdom.

According to the Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Femi Babafemi, a follow-up operation linked to another UK shipment led to the arrest of its designated recipient, Nurudeen Abiodun Kadiri, 44, after operatives intercepted another consignment of Colorado weighing 12.25kg. The suspect reportedly told investigators that his brother in the UK sent the package to him.

The agency also intercepted consignments of Colorado concealed inside music speakers at two motor parks in Lagos.

Operatives of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) recovered a music speaker containing three packs of Colorado at Maza Maza motor park. The consignment was allegedly being transported to 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.

In a separate operation at Iddo motor park, NDLEA operatives arrested Ifeanyi Nwokolo Henry on Friday, September 11, while allegedly attempting to dispatch 2.1kg of Colorado to Kano.

Drugs Hidden in Speakers, Bread
In Delta State, separate operations in Ughelli and Asaba resulted in the seizure of ampoules of pentazocine injection, codeine syrup, tramadol, diazepam, flunitrazepam, also known as Hypnox, and MDMA, popularly called Molly.

Several of the substances 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 led to the arrest of 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 resulted in the seizure of 1,700 tablets of diazepam concealed inside loaves of bread. The drugs were recovered from 28-year-old Habibu Sabitu.

At Katako Market in Jos, Plateau State, NDLEA operatives also arrested 51-year-old Chinedu Uzor with 157,100 capsules of tramadol.

Cannabis farms destroyed

The NDLEA also intensified its offensive against illicit cannabis cultivation, destroying 4,832.56kg of skunk from cannabis farms in Edo State.

The operations were conducted at Usen Forest, Igwe-Oke Forest and Ogboha Forest in Ovia South West, Owan East and Owan West Local Government Areas.

A 39-year-old suspect, Sunday Segun, 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 allegedly concealed in the boot of a Toyota Avalon car with registration number ABJ 917 FV.

A 58-year-old suspect, Paul Ogbuwala, was arrested. According to the agency, he was 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.

Bayelsa State also recorded a major seizure after NDLEA operatives arrested four suspects at Ovom, Yenagoa, with 110 bags of cannabis weighing 876kg.

The suspects were identified as 70-year-old Godwoman Gboriye, Motombo Silver, 44, Pere Andrew, 39, and Keme Andrew, 43.

NDLEA sustains anti-drug campaign

Beyond seizures and arrests, 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 in 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 traditional rulers expressed appreciation to the agency for allowing members of the community to access 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.

Commending the officers and men of DOGI, MMIA, Ondo, Edo, Delta, Kaduna, Plateau, Bayelsa and Kano Commands for the successful operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), urged personnel to sustain the agency’s balanced approach to drug control.

Marwa charged officers to continue shutting down the pipelines being used by drug cartels, whether through airports, seaports, land borders or the hinterland where cannabis is cultivated.

He urged them to sustain the pressure on drug trafficking networks and prevent illicit substances from reaching communities across the country.