NDLEA warns parents over drug-laced cookies, gummies
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA
Abdullateef Fowewe
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has urged Nigerian parents to pay closer attention to their children’s consumption of cookies and gummies following the seizure of cannabis-infused products disguised as ordinary snacks.
The warning was issued by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, who shared images of seized “Cookies Delta 8 Gummies” in flavours including Hawaiian Rain Pineapple Guava and Thai Mango.
The packages were labelled as vegan and hemp-derived and reportedly contained Delta-8.
Babafemi said the products showed how criminal elements were attempting to smuggle illicit substances into the country using attractive packaging that could appeal to young people.
“As parents, if your kids and young ones always crave for cookies and gummies, you may have to pay a little more attention.
“There may be more to it than ordinary cookies and gummies as one of the latest seizures by @ndlea_nigeria officers show a desperate attempt by criminal elements to smuggle in illicit substances under the guise of cookies and gummies,” he wrote.
The seized items included colourful packs of gummies, loose pink and yellow gummy sweets and shipping boxes.
The products were reportedly concealed among other imported goods in two 40-foot containers intercepted at the Tincan Island Port in Lagos.
The consignment included 109 cartons of Delta-8 cannabis-infused pre-roll cookies, 125 cartons of Delta-8 cannabis-infused gummies and 73 cartons of cannabis-infused cookies, with an estimated street value of ₦373.8 million.
The agency’s warning comes amid concerns that drug traffickers are increasingly disguising controlled substances as confectionery and other everyday food products.
Parents and guardians have therefore been advised to examine unfamiliar snacks found in children’s possession and remain alert to products with unclear or suspicious labelling.
