Video: NDLEA issues red alert over drug-laden consolidated cargoes from abroad
Abdullateef Fowewe
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has issued an urgent warning to Nigerians against accepting consolidated cargoes sent from abroad, revealing a growing tactic where illicit drugs—particularly synthetic cannabis strains known as “Colorado” and “Loud”—are concealed in shipments to unsuspecting family members and friends.
Femi Babafemi, NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, sounded the alarm in a social media post on Sunday, cautioning that some Nigerians living overseas are exploiting personal relationships to traffic drugs into the country.
He wrote, “RED ALERT! The new thing now is that some of our ‘abroad’ people are sending home consolidated cargoes contaminated with illicit drugs especially Colorado and Loud, putting their family members and friends as consignees or recipients.
“The warning here is, if you’re not part of the syndicate, don’t accept to receive consignments on behalf of your ‘abroad’ brother or sister or friend particularly if you don’t know the full contents of the consignment.
“Many are already behind bars for this and the number keeps increasing with daily operations by @ndlea_nigeria officers. Please heed this warning and save yourself of the jail experience.”
The warning follows a series of high-profile interceptions.
On September 13, NDLEA announced nationwide operations that recovered more than 2.3 tonnes of illicit drugs across multiple states.
In Lagos alone, operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, intercepted two UK-bound consignments containing a combined 44.45kg of Colorado hidden in consolidated cargoes.
One shipment comprised 27 parcels weighing 32.20kg.
Among those arrested was 44-year-old real estate agent Abideen Jide Salami, who was detained on September 9 after arriving to collect a large luggage containing the drugs using a secret collection code allegedly sent by his brother in the United Kingdom.
NDLEA also recovered Colorado concealed inside music speakers at motor parks in Lagos, leading to further arrests linked to the syndicate.
Footage released alongside the alert shows NDLEA officers in gloves carefully unpacking black-wrapped packages on a stainless-steel table, revealing vacuum-sealed bags containing yellowish substances consistent with seized synthetic cannabis—underscoring the agency’s methodical approach to uncovering concealed narcotics.
