‎How NDLEA Uncovered Colorado Hidden in Speakers, Bread

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have intercepted 44.45kg of synthetic cannabis, popularly known as Colorado, in two separate consignments from the United Kingdom.

The agency also recovered consignments of Colorado concealed in music speakers at two motor parks in Lagos, while several suspects linked to the shipments were arrested.

‎The NDLEA disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday by its Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.

‎According to the agency, operatives at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, intercepted a UK-bound consignment containing 27 parcels of Colorado weighing 32.20kg.

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

The agency said a follow-up operation linked to another UK shipment led to the arrest of 44-year-old Nurudeen Abiodun Kadiri, who allegedly came to collect another consignment containing 12.25kg of Colorado.

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‎Kadiri reportedly told operatives that his brother in the UK sent the drugs to him.

In another operation, NDLEA operatives attached to the 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 allegedly destined for Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, and subsequently 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, according to the agency.

Similarly, at Iddo Park, Lagos, a 2.1kg consignment of Colorado was intercepted while a suspect, Ifeanyi Nwokolo Henry, was allegedly attempting to dispatch it to Kano on Friday, September 11.

‎In Delta State, separate operations in Ughelli and Asaba resulted in the arrest of two suspects, Emeka Oji and Chukwuebuka Anedi, and the recovery of various controlled substances.

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‎The recovered drugs included ampoules of pentazocine injection, codeine syrup, tramadol, diazepam, flunitrazepam, also known as Hypnox, and MDMA, popularly called Molly.

‎The NDLEA said some of the substances were concealed in music speakers.

‎In Kano State, a raid at Sabon Gari led to the arrest of 20-year-old Saidu Adamu, from whom operatives recovered 785,000 capsules of pregabalin weighing 669.425kg.

Also in Kano, a stop-and-search operation along the Zaria-Kano-Hadejia Road led to the seizure of 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, NDLEA operatives arrested 51-year-old Chinedu Uzor at Katako Market, Jos, with 157,100 capsules of tramadol.

‎The agency also reported the destruction of 4,832.56kg of skunk, a strain of cannabis, during operations on farms in Usen Forest, Igwe-Oke Forest and Ogboha Forest in Edo State.

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A 39-year-old suspect, Sunday Segun, was arrested during the operation on Friday, September 11.

‎In Ondo State, operatives acting on intelligence raided a residence along Oke-Iya, Ijoka Road, Akure, on Wednesday, September 9, where they recovered 186kg of skunk allegedly concealed in the boot of a Toyota Avalon car.

A 58-year-old suspect, Paul Ogbuwala, was arrested. The agency alleged that 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.

Similarly, 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.

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Suspects

‎Meanwhile, the NDLEA said its commands and formations across the country continued with its War Against Drug Abuse sensitisation campaigns in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities.

The activities included an enlightenment lecture for students and staff of Mezube Islamiyya Academy in Tudun Wada, Kano; an advocacy visit to the management of the Cross River State College of Health Technology, Calabar; and a visit by Rikkos traditional rulers 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, the NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), urged them to sustain the agency’s balanced approach to drug control.

Marwa charged the operatives to continue blocking drug trafficking routes used by cartels through airports, seaports, land borders and cannabis-producing areas across the country.