NDLEA Intercepts Colos Shipments From UK, Recovers Over 2.3 Tonnes Of Illicit Drugs

The National Drug Law Enforcement zAgency (NDLEA), has intercepted two shipments of synthetic cannabis, popularly known as Colorado or “Colos”, concealed in consolidated cargoes from the United Kingdom, as operatives recovered more than 2.3 tonnes of assorted illicit drugs in raids and operations across several states.

The operations, which also led to the arrest of a real estate agent, a 70-year-old woman and several other suspects, were carried out in Lagos, Ondo, Edo, Delta, Kaduna, Plateau, Bayelsa and Kano States.

At the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, NDLEA operatives intercepted a UK-bound consignment containing 27 parcels of Colorado weighing 32.20kg.

A real estate agent, Abideen Jide Salami, was subsequently arrested on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, after he allegedly arrived to collect a large luggage containing the illicit substance using a secret collection code reportedly sent to him by his brother based in the UK.

In a follow-up operation linked to another UK consignment, NDLEA operatives also arrested Nurudeen Abiodun Kadiri, 44, after recovering another 12.25kg of Colorado.

The suspect reportedly told investigators that his brother in the UK sent the consignment to him.

The agency’s Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) also intercepted Colorado concealed inside music speakers at the Maza Maza motor park in Lagos.

The consignment, which was allegedly being transported to Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, and ultimately Liberia, contained three packs of Colorado.

A tour agent, Ifeanyi Obed Augustine, 41, and the alleged owner of the consignment, Obasi Ugochuckwu, 46, were arrested following a sting operation at a nearby eatery.

Similarly, at Iddo Park, Lagos, NDLEA operatives on Friday, September 11, arrested Ifeanyi Nwokolo Henry while he allegedly attempted to dispatch 2.1kg of Colorado to Kano.

In Delta State, separate operations in Ughelli and Asaba resulted in the seizure of ampoules of pentazocine injection, codeine syrup, tramadol, diazepam, flunitrazepam, popularly known as Hypnox, and MDMA, also called Molly.

Some of the drugs were concealed inside music speakers, while two suspects, Emeka Oji and Chukwuebuka Anedi, were arrested.