The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) successfully intercepted a shipment of ‘Colorado,’ a potent strain of cannabis, concealed in boxing kits imported from the United States.
The consignment, weighing 1.80 kilograms, arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos on New Year’s Day. NDLEA’s weeklong intelligence-led operation resulted in the arrest of the suspect, 38-year-old Olorunfunmi Saheed Olakunle, who distributed the psychoactive substance across Lagos.
In a statement released on Sunday, NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi disclosed that the suspect admitted to delivering such consignments on behalf of his childhood friend, US-based Sagir Salami.
Meanwhile, a parallel operation in various states led to the arrest of twelve suspects, including a 28-year-old female supplier of ammunition to bandits, Bilkisu Suleman. She was apprehended with 249 rounds of 7.62 mm live ammunition on her way to deliver them to a bandit in Katsina state.
The NDLEA also reported the transfer of a suspect, Francis Suru, and 63 jumbo bags of Ghana Loud, a cannabis strain weighing 2,104.2 kilograms, intercepted earlier in December.
Additional drug seizures occurred in Niger, Kano, Borno, and Osun states, involving suspects transporting various quantities of cannabis. In Osun, a consignment sent from Lagos to Osogbo was intercepted, leading to the arrest of Ibrahim Olawale with a total drug weight of 10.974 kilograms.
Commending the successful operations, NDLEA Chairman/CEO Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) urged continued vigilance and intensified efforts in drug demand reduction and supply reduction in the new year.
The agency also conducted War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization lectures across the country, emphasizing its commitment to combating drug-related issues.
