Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted two shipments of synthetic cannabis, popularly called Colorado or Colos in street terms concealed in consolidated cargoes coming from the United Kingdom.
This is contained in a statement by Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi on Sunday in Abuja.
Giving a breakdown, Babafemi said that NDLEA operatives intercepted a UK-inbound consignment concealing 27 parcels of colos weighing 32.20kg at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja Lagos.
He said that a real estate agent who showed up with a secret collection code relayed from his UK-based brother to collect a large luggage containing the illicit substance was arrested on Wednesday.
He also said that a follow-up operation stemming from a second UK consignment led operatives to the designated recipient of another consignment of Colorado weighing 12.25kg.
According to Babafemi, the suspect said the consignment was sent to him by his brother in the UK.
“At least seven suspects connected to the seized cargoes have been arrested,” he said.
Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) intercepted a music speaker rigged with three packs of Colorado at a motor park in Maza Maza, Lagos, heading to Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, and ultimately Liberia.
Babafemi said that a tour agent and the consignment’s owner were both arrested after a swift sting operation at a nearby eatery.
In a separate operation at Iddo park, a suspect was nabbed on Friday while attempting to dispatch 2.1kg of Colorado to Kano.
With the same vigour, Babafemi said that commands and formations of the agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities.
He said that the WADA programmes were carried out in schools, worship centres, workplaces, and communities among others in the past week.
“These include: WADA enlightenment lecture to students and staff of Mezube Islamiyya Academy, Tudun Wada, Kano; WADA advocacy visit to the management of Cross River State College of Health Technology, Calabar.
“Also included was the hosting of Rikkos traditional rulers who were on a thank you visit to NDLEA Academy for allowing community members to use the Agency’s clinic, Jos.
“The Zone 4 Command of NDLEA paid a WADA advocacy visit to the Emir of Keffi, Alhaji Shehu Chindo Yamusa 111, Keffi, Nasarawa state, among others,” he said.
