NDLEA intercepts UK Colos shipments, arrests seven in Lagos

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has intercepted two consignments of synthetic cannabis, popularly known as Colorado or Colos, concealed in consolidated cargoes from the United Kingdom.

The seizures, made at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport and two motor parks in Lagos, led to the arrest of at least seven suspects linked to the consignments.

At the import shed of the Lagos airport, NDLEA operatives intercepted a UK-origin consignment containing 27 parcels of Colos weighing 32.20kg.

The agency also arrested a real estate agent, Abideen Jide Salami, who allegedly arrived to collect a luggage containing the illicit substance using a collection code sent by his brother based in the UK.

Salami was arrested on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, according to the agency.

A follow-up operation involving another UK shipment led to the arrest of 44-year-old Nurudeen Abiodun Kadiri, who allegedly showed up as the designated recipient of a separate consignment containing 12.25kg of Colorado.

The suspect reportedly told NDLEA operatives that his brother in the UK sent the package.

In another operation, the agency’s Directorate of Operations and General Investigation intercepted a music speaker containing three packs of Colorado at the Maza Maza motor park in Lagos.

The consignment was reportedly destined for Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, and eventually Liberia.

NDLEA said 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.

At Iddo motor park, operatives also arrested Ifeanyi Nwokolo Henry on Friday while he was allegedly attempting to dispatch 2.1kg of Colorado to Kano.

The agency said the seizures were part of its continuing operations against international drug trafficking networks using Nigeria as a transit route.

NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended the officers involved and urged them to sustain efforts to disrupt drug trafficking pipelines at airports, seaports, land borders and within the hinterland.

He also directed officers to maintain the agency’s balanced approach to drug control, combining enforcement operations with prevention and public sensitisation.

The latest operations come days after the NDLEA warned Nigerians against accepting foreign cargoes on behalf of relatives or friends without knowing their contents, after identifying cases where illicit drugs were allegedly concealed in consolidated shipments.