NDLEA intercepts drugs in moi-moi sachets, canned food in Lagos

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has uncovered sophisticated methods of drug concealment in Lagos, seizing large quantities of illicit substances disguised in food packaging, while also executing a series of successful raids across multiple states.

On Wednesday, July 23, NDLEA operatives along the Epe-Ajah Expressway intercepted Chidi Agbafo, who was transporting 21.7kg of Colorado, a potent strain of cannabis.

Some of the drugs were ingeniously packaged in moimoi cooking sachets, along with 3.8 litres of codeine syrup. The suspect was reportedly en route to Warri and Oghara in Delta State via commercial bus.

In a separate operation at the Apapa Seaport, officials discovered 101kg of Canadian Loud—another powerful cannabis variant—neatly concealed in 202 tins labeled ‘Bean Salad Mix’.

The illicit cargo was found hidden in two Toyota Sienna vans inside a shipping container imported from Canada. The joint examination involved NDLEA officers, Customs, and other security agencies.

The Lagos seizures are part of a broader, week-long enforcement effort that recorded major busts across the country:

Kaduna-Abuja Highway: NDLEA operatives arrested Usman Musa with 71,000 pills of tramadol, diazepam, and exol-5 on July 23.

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Maiduguri, Borno: Binta Usman, 30, was arrested with 30.1kg of skunk. Her accomplice, Bala Abdullahi, was arrested two days later.

Ondo State: A raid in Idoani forest on July 26 led to the arrest of three brothers—Nanna, Chizom, and Maxwell Ozirinye. Officers destroyed a 2,500kg cannabis farm and seized 121.4kg of processed skunk.

Edo State: In Asakpa community, Benin City, Bright Sunday Okon, 26, was arrested with multiple strains of cannabis including Colorado, Loud, Arizona, and methamphetamine.

Complementing these enforcement actions, the NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign. Sensitization lectures were delivered in schools across Oyo, Ebonyi, Sokoto, and Lagos States, while NDLEA officials in Anambra State paid advocacy visits to traditional rulers, including Obi Gibson Nwosu of Awka and Igwe Robert Eze of Ukpo.

Chairman and Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the dedication of operatives in MMIA, Apapa, Lagos, Cross River, Edo, Ondo, Nasarawa, Borno, Niger, Ogun, Gombe, Kaduna, and Kogi. He highlighted the Agency’s ongoing commitment to balancing drug supply reduction with demand reduction, guided by intelligence and public engagement.