Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted two separate shipments of synthetic cannabis, popularly known as “Colorado” or “Colos,” weighing a combined 44.45 kilograms from consolidated cargoes arriving from the United Kingdom.
The operations, disclosed in an official statement on Sunday, September 13, 2026, by Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy at the NDLEA Headquarters in Abuja, led to the dismantling of a major international drug syndicate and the arrest of multiple suspects.
Operatives stationed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Ikeja, Lagos import shed intercepted 27 parcels of Colorado weighing 32.20kg concealed in consolidated UK cargo.
On Wednesday, September 9, 2026, operatives arrested a real estate agent, Abideen Jide Salami, when he arrived to collect the illicit cargo using a secret collection code forwarded to him by his brother in the UK.
A related follow-up operation linked to a second UK shipment led to the arrest of Nurudeen Abiodun Kadiri, 44, who was caught attempting to receive 12.25kg of Colorado, also sent by a relative in the UK.
Operatives from the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) intercepted a commercial music speaker packed with three parcels of Colorado at the Maza Maza motor park, intended for transit to Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, and Liberia.
A sting operation at a nearby eatery led to the arrest of tour agent Ifeanyi Obed Augustine, 41, and the alleged cargo owner, Obasi Ugochukwu, 46. Iddo Motor Park, Lagos: On Friday, September 11, 2026, NDLEA personnel apprehended Ifeanyi Nwokolo Henry while he attempted to dispatch an additional 2.1kg of Colorado to Kano.
Commending the officers involved, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), directed operatives to maintain a rigorous offensive against drug cartels attempting to use Nigeria’s air, sea, and land borders as transit routes for illicit narcotics.
