Yemi Obafemi
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted two consignments of synthetic cannabis, popularly known as Colorado or Colos, being brought into Nigeria from the United Kingdom.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by Femi Babafemi, Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, on Sunday, September 13, 2026.
According to the agency, NDLEA operatives at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, intercepted a UK-bound consignment containing 27 parcels of Colos weighing 32.20kg.
A real estate agent, Abideen Jide Salami, was arrested on Wednesday, September 9, after he allegedly arrived at the airport with a secret collection code sent by his brother in the UK to collect a large luggage containing the illicit substance.
The agency said a follow-up operation linked to another UK consignment led to the arrest of 44-year-old Nurudeen Abiodun Kadiri.
Kadiri allegedly told NDLEA operatives that the 12.25kg consignment of Colorado was sent to him by his brother in the UK.
The two operations formed part of wider raids by the agency, which resulted in the arrest of several suspects and the recovery of more than 2.3 tonnes of assorted illicit drugs across Lagos, Ondo, Edo, Delta, Kaduna, Plateau, Bayelsa and Kano states.
In Lagos, NDLEA operatives also intercepted a music speaker containing three packs of Colorado at a motor park in Maza Maza. The consignment was allegedly destined for Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, and ultimately Liberia.
A tour agent, Ifeanyi Obed Augustine, 41, and the owner of the consignment, Obasi Ugochukwu, 46, were arrested during the operation.
Another suspect, Ifeanyi Nwokolo Henry, was arrested at Iddo Park on September 11 while allegedly attempting to dispatch 2.1kg of Colorado to Kano.
