NDLEA Intercepts UK Colos Shipments, Recovers Over 2.3 Tonnes of Illicit Drugs Nationwide

 NDLEA Intercepts UK Colos Shipments, Recovers Over 2.3 Tonnes of Illicit Drugs Nationwide

....The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted multiple shipments of Colorado, popularly known as “Colos,” from the United Kingdom and recovered more than 2.3 tonnes of assorted illicit drugs in operations across Lagos, Ondo, Edo, Delta, Kaduna, Plateau, Bayelsa and Kano states.

The agency also arrested several suspects, including a real estate agent, a tour agent and a 70-year-old woman, during the operations carried out in the past week.

At the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, NDLEA operatives intercepted a UK-bound consolidated cargo containing 27 parcels of Colorado weighing 32.20 kilogrammes.

A real estate agent, Abideen Jide Salami, was arrested on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, after he arrived to collect the luggage containing the illicit substance using a secret collection code allegedly relayed to him by his brother based in the United Kingdom.

In a follow-up operation linked to another UK consignment, NDLEA operatives traced and arrested the designated recipient, Nurudeen Abiodun Kadiri, 44, who was found in possession of another shipment of Colorado weighing 12.25kg.

Kadiri reportedly told investigators that his brother in the UK sent the consignment.

The agency's Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) also intercepted a music speaker rigged with three packs of Colorado at a motor park in Maza Maza, Lagos.

The consignment was reportedly 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 Ugochuckwu, 46, were arrested during a sting operation at a nearby eatery.

Similarly, at Iddo Motor Park, Lagos, NDLEA operatives arrested Ifeanyi Nwokolo Henry on Friday, September 11, while he was allegedly attempting to dispatch 2.1kg of Colorado to Kano.

Major Drug Hauls Recovered in Northern States

In Kano State, NDLEA operatives raided an area in Sabon Gari and arrested 20-year-old Saidu Adamu with 785,000 capsules of Pregabalin weighing 669.425kg.

During a separate stop-and-search operation along the Zaria-Kano-Hadejia road, operatives intercepted 1,700 tablets of Diazepam concealed inside loaves of bread. A 28-year-old suspect, Habibu Sabitu, was arrested in connection with the consignment.

In Plateau State, 51-year-old Chinedu Uzor was arrested at Katako Market, Jos, with 157,100 capsules of Tramadol.

Cannabis, Opioids Seized Across South-South and South-West

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 (Molly).

Some of the drugs were concealed inside music speakers, while two suspects, Emeka Oji and Chukwuebuka Anedi, were arrested.

The NDLEA also continued its crackdown on illicit cannabis cultivation in Edo State, where operatives destroyed 4,832.56kg of skunk on cannabis farms located in 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 operation on Friday, September 11.

In Ondo State, operatives 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 and allegedly found 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.

Meanwhile, four suspects were arrested at Ovom, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, 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 WADA Campaign

Beyond interdiction operations, NDLEA Commands and formations across the country also continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns 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 traditional rulers from Rikkos to the NDLEA Academy in Jos to appreciate the agency for allowing members of the community access to its clinic.

The Zone 4 Command of the agency also paid a WADA advocacy visit to the Emir of Keffi, Alhaji Shehu Chindo Yamusa III, in Keffi, Nasarawa State.

Commending officers and men of DOGI, MMIA and the affected state commands for their operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd.), urged them to sustain the agency's balanced approach to drug control.

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

The NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed the operations in a statement issued on Sunday, September 13, 2026.