The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted Colorado shipments from the United Kingdom and recovered more than 2.3 tonnes of assorted illicit drugs in raids across eight states.
NDLEA operatives intercepted two consignments of synthetic cannabis, popularly known as Colorado or Colos, hidden in consolidated cargoes from the UK.
At the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, the operatives found 27 parcels of Colorado weighing 32.20kg.
They arrested a real estate agent Abideen Jide Salami after he arrived to collect the luggage using a secret code sent by his UK-based brother.
A follow-up operation linked to another UK shipment led to the arrest of Nurudeen Abiodun Kadiri, 44, who received a 12.25kg consignment of Colorado.
The suspect told operatives that his brother in the UK sent the drugs.
NDLEA operatives from the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) intercepted a music speaker containing three packs of Colorado at Maza Maza motor park in Lagos.
The consignment was headed to Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, and later Liberia. A tour agent, Ifeanyi Obed Augustine, 41, and the owner, Obasi Ugochuckwu, 46, were arrested during a sting operation at a nearby eatery.
At Iddo Park, operatives also arrested Ifeanyi Nwokolo Henry on Friday while he attempted to dispatch 2.1kg of Colorado to Kano.
Meanwhile, two separate operations in Ughelli and Asaba, Delta State, produced ampoules of pentazocine injection, codeine syrup, tramadol, diazepam, flunitrazepam, also known as Hypnox, and MDMA, popularly called Molly.
Similarly, the NDLEA arrested two suspects, Emeka Oji and Chukwuebuka Anedi, in connection with the seizures.
In Kano, operatives raided Sabon Gari and 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 diazepam tablets hidden inside loaves of bread. Operatives arrested 28-year-old Habibu Sabitu.
In Plateau State, NDLEA officers arrested 51-year-old Chinedu Uzor at Katako Market, Jos, with 157,100 capsules of tramadol.
In Edo State, the agency continued its crackdown on illegal cannabis cultivation by destroying 4,832.56kg of skunk from farms in Usen, Igwe-Oke and Ogboha forests.
The operations covered Ovia South West, Owan East and Owan West Local Government Areas. Operatives also arrested 39-year-old Sunday Segun on Friday.
In Ondo State, officers acting on credible intelligence raided a residence along Oke-Iya, Ijoka Road, Akure, on Wednesday.
They recovered 186kg of skunk hidden in the boot of a Toyota Avalon marked ABJ 917 FV. Operatives arrested 58-year-old Paul Ogbuwala, who allegedly planned to move the consignment to Jos for distributions.
In Kaduna, NDLEA arrested female suspect Hannah Michael at Gonin Gora with 369.6kg of cannabis.
Also, the operatives in Bayelsa arrested four suspects at Ovom, Yenagoa, with 110 bags of cannabis weighing 876kg.
The suspects included 70-year-old Godwoman Gboriye, Motombo Silver, 44, Pere Andrew, 39, and Keme Andrew, 43.
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.
Activities included an enlightenment lecture for students and staff of Mezube Islamiyya Academy, Tudun Wada, Kano, and an advocacy visit to the management of Cross River State College of Health Technology, Calabar.
The agency also hosted traditional rulers from Rikkos, who paid a thank-you visit to the NDLEA Academy in Jos after the agency allowed community members to use its clinic.
Meanwhile, the Zone 4 Command visited the Emir of Keffi, Alhaji Shehu Chindo Yamusa III, in Nasarawa State as part of its WADA advocacy campaign.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), commended officers of DOGI, MMIA and the Ondo, Edo, Delta, Kaduna, Plateau, Bayelsa and Kano Commands for the operations.
Marwa urged them and their colleagues nationwide to sustain the agency’s balanced approach to drug control.
He also charged the officers to shut every pipeline used by drug cartels, whether through airports, seaports, land borders or the hinterland where cannabis is cultivated.
