NDLEA Intercepts Cannabis Candies Imported from the UK

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted a consignment of cannabis-laced candies imported from the United Kingdom. The shipment, intended for sale at a kiddies’ mart located at 46 Ogunlana Drive, Surulere, Lagos, was seized on February 27 at the import shed of Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos. The cargo arrived as a consolidated shipment on Allied Airways.

A forensic analysis confirmed that the candies contained a strong strain of cannabis. Following this discovery, NDLEA officers arrested Adedamola Taylor, the recipient of the shipment, on March 4. His arrest followed the earlier detention of a freight agent linked to the consignment. Adedamola claimed that his UK-based brother, Babatunde Alabi, had sent the package for delivery to Musurat Lawal, who manages the kiddies’ mart owned by Alabi. NDLEA later arrested Musurat during a follow-up operation at the store.

In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives arrested two suspects, China Michael and Igbo Ekene, on March 7 after intercepting their commercial truck in the Shibiri area of Ojo, Lagos. A search of the vehicle uncovered 248 compressed blocks of Ghanaian Loud, a high-potency cannabis strain, concealed in the truck’s underbelly. The drugs weighed 128 kilograms.

Also on March 7, three suspects—Osinachi Nwachukwu, Tochukwu Okafor Christian, and John Ugochukwu Mbakwe—were apprehended at Mosalasi Junction, Mushin, Lagos. They were found in possession of 301,600 pills of tramadol and other opioids.

In Kano State, NDLEA officers arrested 65-year-old Yahaya Haruna on March 6 along Gadar Tamburawa Road. He was found with 19.2 kilograms of skunk, a variant of cannabis. In another operation, 60-year-old Musa Bello, also known as Jajere, was caught with 212 bottles of codeine-based syrup at Medile, Kumbotso Local Government Area.

In Abia State, NDLEA raided a house and warehouse belonging to 37-year-old Blessing Okoronkwo on March 4. During the operation, officers recovered 442,594 pills of tramadol and other opioids, along with 1,274 bottles of codeine syrup.

In Benue State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a vehicle at Ugbema Junction, Katsina Ala, on March 5. Two suspects, Nwaeze Onyeabor, 47, and Tombo Thomas, 23, were arrested, and officers recovered 50,000 pills of tramadol and exol-5.

In Osun State, NDLEA arrested Asimiyu Muibi, 50, on March 4 at Modakeke, Ife East Local Government Area. He was caught with 162 kilograms of skunk. That same day, officers recovered 95 kilograms of skunk from a Toyota Camry with registration number KSF 72 GW during a raid in Ede.

In Edo State, NDLEA raided a cannabis farm in the Amahor community forest, Igueben Local Government Area, on March 5. A suspect, Etim Esien Stephen, 55, was arrested, and officers destroyed 9,514.625 kilograms of skunk cultivated on 3.8 hectares of farmland.

Beyond enforcement operations, NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensit