NDLEA Intercepts UK-Bound Colorado At Lagos Airport, Arrests Suspects
By Emmanuel Daniji
A real estate agent and several other suspects have been arrested in Lagos after the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) intercepted consignments of Colorado, a synthetic cannabis popularly known as “Colos”, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport and other locations in the state.
The interceptions were part of a wider nationwide operation in which the NDLEA recovered more than 2.3 tonnes of assorted illicit drugs across eight states.
NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed the seizures and arrests in a statement on Sunday.
At the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, NDLEA operatives intercepted a consignment containing 27 parcels of Colorado weighing 32.20kg.
A real estate agent, Abideen Jide Salami, was subsequently arrested on Wednesday, September 9, when he allegedly arrived at the airport to collect a large luggage containing the drug.
According to Babafemi, Salami presented a secret collection code which he allegedly received from his brother based in the United Kingdom.
A follow-up operation linked to another UK shipment also led to the arrest of Nurudeen Abiodun Kadiri, 44, who was allegedly identified as the recipient of another 12.25kg consignment of Colorado.
Babafemi said Kadiri told investigators that his brother in the UK had sent the drug shipment to him.
The NDLEA also intercepted another Colorado consignment at Maza Maza Motor Park in Lagos, where the drug was allegedly concealed inside a music speaker.
The speaker reportedly contained three packs of Colorado and was being transported to Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, with Liberia listed as the final destination.
A sting operation conducted at a nearby eatery resulted in the arrest of Ifeanyi Obed Augustine, 41, a tour agent, and Obasi Ugochuckwu, 46, whom the agency identified as the owner of the consignment.
At Iddo Motor Park, another suspect, Ifeanyi Nwokolo Henry, was arrested on Friday, September 11, while allegedly attempting to dispatch 2.1kg of Colorado to Kano.
But the Lagos operations were only part of a much larger drug crackdown carried out by the agency across the country.
In Delta State, NDLEA operatives made separate arrests in Ughelli and Asaba and recovered ampoules of pentazocine injection, codeine syrup, tramadol, diazepam, flunitrazepam, also known as Hypnox, and MDMA, popularly called Molly.
Some of the substances were allegedly concealed inside music speakers.
Two suspects, Emeka Oji and Chukwuebuka Anedi, were arrested in connection with the seizures.
One of the largest pharmaceutical drug seizures was recorded in Kano State, where NDLEA operatives raided the Sabon Gari area and arrested 20-year-old Saidu Adamu.
The operation led to the recovery of 785,000 capsules of pregabalin weighing 669.425kg.
In another operation along the Zaria-Kano-Hadejia road, NDLEA officers conducting stop-and-search intercepted 1,700 tablets of diazepam allegedly hidden inside loaves of bread.
The drugs were reportedly recovered from 28-year-old Habibu Sabitu.
In Plateau State, NDLEA operatives arrested 51-year-old Chinedu Uzor at Katako Market in Jos with 157,100 capsules of tramadol.
The agency also continued its offensive against illicit cannabis cultivation.
In Edo State, operatives destroyed 4,832.56kg of skunk recovered from cannabis farms in Usen Forest, Igwe-Oke Forest and Ogboha Forest, located across 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, NDLEA officers acting on intelligence raided a residence along Oke-Iya, Ijoka Road, Akure, on Wednesday, September 9.
They reportedly recovered 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. The agency alleged that the consignment was destined for Jos for onward distribution.
In Kaduna State, a female suspect, Hannah Michael, was arrested at Gonin Gora with 369.6kg of cannabis.
Meanwhile, in Bayelsa State, four suspects were arrested 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.
The NDLEA said the seizures and arrests were part of its continuing efforts to disrupt drug trafficking networks operating across Nigeria.
The agency also said it had continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities.
For Lagos, the latest operation once again shows how drug trafficking networks can use seemingly ordinary channels, including airports, motor parks, luggage and commercial shipments, to move illicit substances.
The NDLEA allegations against the arrested suspects remain subject to investigation and, where charges are filed, determination by the courts.
