The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has uncovered multiple consignments of illicit drugs concealed in consolidated cargoes, music speakers and loaves of bread during operations across several states.
The seizures included synthetic cannabis, opioids and other controlled substances, with several suspects arrested in connection with the interceptions.
At the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, NDLEA operatives intercepted a United Kingdom-bound consignment containing 27 parcels of synthetic cannabis, popularly known as Colorado, weighing 32.20 kilogrammes.
A real estate agent, Abideen Jide Salami, was arrested after allegedly arriving to collect the consignment using a secret collection code reportedly relayed by his brother based in the UK.
A follow-up operation also resulted in the arrest of Nurudeen Abiodun Kadiri, who was identified as the intended recipient of another consignment containing 12.25 kilogrammes of the same substance.
In Lagos motor parks, NDLEA operatives also intercepted music speakers that had been allegedly modified to conceal Colorado, resulting in the arrest of several suspects.
The agency recorded another seizure in Kano, where 1,700 tablets of diazepam were allegedly concealed inside loaves of bread.
Further operations across Delta, Plateau, Edo, Ondo, Kaduna and Bayelsa states resulted in the seizure of significant quantities of pentazocine, codeine, tramadol and other opioids.
The series of interceptions highlights the different methods allegedly being employed by drug traffickers to conceal and transport illicit substances, including the use of ordinary household and commercial items.
NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended the officers involved in the operations and urged personnel to sustain efforts to disrupt the channels being used by drug cartels.
Marwa charged officers to remain committed to identifying and shutting down what he described as pipelines used by criminal networks to move illicit drugs into and across the country.
The latest seizures form part of the agency’s continuing operations against the trafficking and distribution of controlled substances across Nigeria.
