The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has uncovered a social media–based drug distribution ring and arrested two suspected ringleaders during an operation in the Lekki area of Lagos.
The discovery followed weeks of surveillance that traced the circulation of illicit substances disguised as imported Christmas treats.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, the suspects, identified as Deji Adesanya and Olubiyi Majekodunmi, allegedly brought in multiple consignments of a potent cannabis strain popularly called Canadian Loud.
The drugs were repackaged into brightly coloured sachets designed to resemble premium cookies and snack brands and were sold to buyers through a WhatsApp network.
Acting on intelligence, NDLEA officers stormed the suspects’ apartment on Ojulari Street in the Ikate area of Lekki on Saturday.
During the raid, operatives recovered roughly five kilogrammes of Canadian Loud along with stacks of customised sachets used in retailing the drugs. Both men were taken into custody for further investigation.
A separate operation in Lagos last Thursday led to the arrest of a 38-year-old alleged distributor, Philip Ucheka, who was intercepted while receiving 110 pouches of Canadian Loud weighing about 55.6 kilogrammes in the Ladipo area of Mushin. Authorities also impounded three delivery vehicles linked to his operations.
NDLEA operatives also made several seizures at courier facilities in the state.
One parcel containing 100 grammes of Loud concealed inside a stuffed teddy bear arriving from Thailand was intercepted on Thursday.
Another consignment headed for the United Kingdom and filled with 548 capsules of tramadol hidden in bottles labelled as vitamin supplements was seized the following day.
Across the country, similar operations yielded more arrests and large drug recoveries. In Oyo State, officers patrolling the Lagos–Ibadan expressway intercepted 55-year-old Wasiu Kareem.
He was found in possession of thousands of ampoules of pentazocine, hundreds of bottles of codeine syrup, and large quantities of tramadol and Co-codamol tablets.
Seven suspects were arrested earlier in the week during a raid on Ipe Forest in Akoko South East Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The operation resulted in the recovery of more than 3,000 kilogrammes of cannabis.
Those detained include John Ede, Ede Ndubuisi, Ikenna Abe, Eze Chukwuma, Maduabuchi Odo, Nnaji Chudubem and Gorge Okowor.
In Kogi State, officers intercepted a truck moving 649 kilogrammes of cannabis along the Okene–Lokoja highway, leading to the arrest of 49-year-old Anthony Sylvester.
Similarly, operatives at the Seme Border Special Area Command discovered 487 blocks of cannabis weighing over 243 kilogrammes in a warehouse at the Ashipa area of Badagry.
A suspect, Abubakar Shuaibu, was apprehended.
Kano State also recorded arrests, including that of 47-year-old Tsalha Alasan, who was stopped along the Zaria–Kano route with 137 kilogrammes of cannabis.
In Bauchi State, three men—Godspower Appeal, Ernest Upong and Godday Chukwudi—were taken into custody after officers found 322 blocks of cannabis weighing over 200 kilogrammes in an SUV believed to be used for drug transport.
Further north, on the Abuja–Jos highway, a suspect identified as John Ekojo was detained with more than 210 kilogrammes of cannabis.
Along the Abuja–Kaduna route, security agents arrested a couple carrying 725 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition hidden inside a sack of maize.
Another man, Awwal Sabiu, was caught the next day with 400 rounds of similar ammunition at the tollgate.
Babafemi noted that alongside these enforcement actions, NDLEA commands nationwide continued their public education campaigns under the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative.
These programmes target schools, religious centres, workplaces and local communities.
The agency’s chairman, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (rtd.), commended teams in Lagos, Ondo, Oyo, Kogi, Kaduna, Kano, Seme and Bauchi for what he described as a productive week of coordinated operations.
He urged officers across the country to sustain the momentum and maintain the agency’s approach that balances prevention with tough enforcement.
