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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has successfully foiled a sophisticated drug trafficking operation in Lagos, uncovering a syndicate that disguised potent cannabis as imported Christmas cookies and snacks for distribution via social media platforms.
In a targeted raid on November 22, NDLEA operatives stormed an apartment on Ojulari Street in the Ikate area of Lekki, arresting the syndicate's masterminds, Deji Adesanya and Olubiyi Majekodunmi. The operation led to the seizure of 5 kilograms of Canadian Loud.
A high-potency strain of cannabis, along with a large quantity of colorful designer sachets featuring images and labels of cookies and snacks to mimic festive treats. The syndicate imported consignments of the drug and repackaged them in retail quantities for sale, exploiting the holiday season to evade detection.
Further investigations revealed the group's use of a WhatsApp platform to coordinate sales and deliveries, forming a covert social media network for distributing the illicit substances across Lagos and beyond.
On November 27, in a related bust in the Ladipo area of Mushin, 38-year-old drug kingpin Philip Ucheka was apprehended while receiving a shipment of 110 pouches of Canadian Loud weighing 55.6 kilograms. Three delivery vehicles used for transporting the disguised drugs were also impounded during the arrest.
In addition to the cookie concealment, NDLEA intercepted 100 grams of Canadian Loud hidden inside a teddy bear imported from Thailand at a Lagos courier company on the same day, highlighting the syndicate's creative smuggling tactics.
Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, commended the operatives for their intelligence driven approach and urged continued vigilance against drug traffickers exploiting festive periods. "This operation underscores our commitment to disrupting illicit drug networks and protecting Nigerian communities from the scourge of substance abuse," Marwa stated.
The arrests and seizures are part of NDLEA's ongoing nationwide offensive against drug syndicates, with further investigations underway to dismantle any remaining elements of the ring.