Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have uncovered and dismantled a drug distribution network in Lagos where illicit substances were allegedly packaged as imported Christmas cookies and assorted snacks for circulation via social media.
The agency confirmed on Sunday that two suspected masterminds, identified as Deji Adesanya and Olubiyi Majekodunmi, were arrested during a raid on their hideout on Ojulari Street, Ikate, Lekki. According to NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi, the syndicate imported consignments of Canadian Loud, a potent cannabis strain—alongside colourful “designer” sachets branded with pictures of cookies and snacks, which they allegedly used to retail the psychoactive substance.
Babafemi disclosed that operatives stormed the apartment on Saturday following credible intelligence on the group’s activities and its WhatsApp-based distribution channel. During the raid, officers reportedly recovered five kilogrammes of Canadian Loud and a large quantity of the branded packaging materials.
In a separate operation in Lagos, a 38-year-old suspected drug kingpin, Philip Ucheka, was arrested last Thursday at Ladipo, Mushin, while allegedly taking delivery of 110 pouches of Canadian Loud weighing 55.6 kilogrammes. NDLEA officers also seized three delivery vehicles from him.
The agency further intercepted 100 grammes of Loud concealed in a teddy bear imported from Thailand at a courier company, while 548 capsules of tramadol hidden in Vitamin C and Magnesium bottles destined for the United Kingdom were recovered at another logistics firm.
In Oyo State, NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Lagos–Ibadan expressway arrested 55-year-old Wasiu Kareem with a large cache of pharmaceutical opioids including 8,000 ampoules of pentazocine, 590 bottles of codeine syrup, 1,500 Co-codamol pills, and 9,900 tramadol capsules.
The agency also recorded multiple arrests in Ondo State after raiding the Ipe forest in Akoko South East, where officers recovered 3,077 kilogrammes of skunk. Seven suspects – John Ede, Ede Ndubuisi, Ikenna Abe, Eze Chukwuma, Maduabuchi Odo, Nnaji Chudubem and Gorge Okowor – were taken into custody.
Similarly, along the Okene–Lokoja highway in Kogi State, operatives intercepted 649 kilogrammes of skunk concealed in a truck, leading to the arrest of 49-year-old Anthony Sylvester. At the Seme border axis, 33-year-old Abubakar Shuaibu was apprehended after officers raided a warehouse and uncovered 487 blocks of skunk weighing 243.5 kilogrammes.
Additional arrests were reported in Kano, Bauchi, and along key northern corridors. In Kano, Tsalha Alasan, 47, was caught with 137 kilogrammes of skunk, while in Bauchi State, three suspects – Godspower Appeal, Ernest Upong and Godday Chukwudi – were arrested at Fanshanu village with 322 blocks of skunk weighing 209 kilogrammes, alongside a black Toyota Highlander allegedly used for conveyance.
NDLEA officers also detained John Ekojo, 51, with 210.15 kilogrammes of skunk along the Abuja–Jos highway. In a separate operation, a couple – Abubakar and Jamila Abdullahi – was arrested on the Abuja–Kaduna highway with 725 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition concealed in a sack of maize. Another suspect, Awwal Sabiu, 20, was also apprehended with 400 rounds of the same ammunition type at the Abuja–Kaduna tollgate.
Babafemi added that the agency’s commands nationwide have continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns across schools, workplaces, worship centres and communities.
NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd), commended operatives across the affected commands for their coordinated and successful operations. He urged them to sustain the agency’s balanced and proactive approach to drug control nationwide.
