NDLEA BUSTS SOCIAL MEDIA DRUG NETWORK PACKAGING CANNABIS AS CHRISTMAS COOKIES, ARRESTS KINGPINS IN LAGOS
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have dismantled a social media–based drug syndicate that disguised illicit substances as imported Christmas cookies and snacks, arresting two masterminds in a raid in Lagos.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.
According to the statement, the syndicate run by Deji Adesanya and Olubiyi Majekodunmi allegedly imported consignments of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, and packaged them in colourful designer sachets branded with cookie and snack labels. Investigators said the packaging was intended to conceal retail quantities of the psychoactive drug.
Following credible intelligence, NDLEA operatives stormed the suspects’ apartment on Ojulari Street, Ikate, Lekki, on Saturday, 22 November 2025, where 5kg of Canadian Loud and a large quantity of the designer sachets were recovered.
The syndicate reportedly distributed the illicit substances via a WhatsApp-based network.
In a related operation in Lagos, operatives arrested 38-year-old drug kingpin, Philip Ucheka, in the Ladipo area of Mushin while he was receiving 110 pouches of Canadian Loud weighing 55.6kg. Three delivery vehicles used for distribution were also impounded.
Further interceptions in Lagos included:
100 grams of Loud concealed inside a teddy bear imported from Thailand at a courier company.
548 capsules of tramadol hidden in Vitamin C and Magnesium bottles, bound for the United Kingdom, intercepted at another logistics firm.
In Oyo State, NDLEA officers on patrol along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway arrested 55-year-old Wasiu Kareem with:
8,000 ampoules of pentazocine injection
590 bottles of codeine syrup
1,500 Co-codamol pills
9,900 tramadol capsules.
In Ondo State, seven suspects were arrested on Monday, 24 November, during a raid at Ipe Forest, Akoko South East LGA, where 3,077kg of skunk was recovered. Those arrested were identified as John Ede, Ede Ndubuisi, Ikenna Abe, Eze Chukwuma, Maduabuchi Odo, Nnaji Chudubem and George Okowor.
Other nationwide arrests and seizures include: Kogi State: 49-year-old Anthony Sylvester arrested along the Okene–Lokoja highway with 649kg of skunk.
Lagos (Seme border): 33-year-old Abubakar Shuaibu arrested in a warehouse with 487 blocks of skunk weighing 243.5kg.
Kano: 47-year-old Tsalha Alasan arrested along Zaria–Kano Road with 137kg of skunk on Monday, 24 November.
Bauchi State: Three suspects Godspower Appeal (50), Ernest Upong (55) and Godday Chukwudi (38) arrested at Fanshanu village, Toro LGA, with 322 blocks of skunk (209kg). A black Toyota Highlander (registration ABJ 533 EA) used to transport the drugs was seized.
Additionally, a 51-year-old suspect, John Ekojo, was arrested along the Abuja–Jos highway with 210.15kg of skunk on Saturday, 29 November.
In a separate operation on the Abuja–Kaduna axis:
A couple, Abdullahi Abubakar (45) and Jamila Abdullahi (35), were arrested with 725 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition concealed in a sack of maize.
20-year-old Awwal Sabiu was caught with 400 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition at the Abuja/Kaduna tollgate on Friday, 28 November.
NDLEA said the operations underscore its commitment to tackling evolving drug trafficking tactics, particularly those leveraging digital platforms and sophisticated concealment methods.
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