NDLEA Busts Drug Syndicate Packaging Illicit Substances as Christmas Cookies
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dismantled a syndicate that distributed illicit drugs disguised as imported Christmas cookies and snacks, arresting the two suspected masterminds during a raid in the Lekki area of Lagos.
According to the Agency, the traffickers – identified as Deji Adesanya and Olubiyi Majekodunmi – operated a distribution network driven through a WhatsApp platform.
They reportedly imported Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, and concealed it in colourful designer sachets branded with pictures of cookies and other snacks for retail distribution.
Acting on intelligence, NDLEA operatives stormed the duo’s apartment on Ojulari Street, Ikate, Lekki, on Saturday, 22nd November 2025.
Officers recovered a large stash of the specially designed sachets along with 5 kilogrammes of Canadian Loud at the point of arrest.
In a separate Lagos operation, the Agency apprehended 38-year-old drug kingpin, Philip Ucheka, on Thursday, 27th November, while he was receiving 110 pouches of Canadian Loud weighing 55.6 kilogrammes at Ladipo, Mushin. Three delivery vehicles linked to his operations were also seized.
NDLEA operatives at a courier company in Lagos intercepted 100 grammes of Loud hidden inside a teddy bear imported from Thailand on the same day.
Another consignment containing 548 capsules of tramadol concealed inside Vitamin C and Magnesium bottles destined for the United Kingdom was seized on Friday, 28th November.
Further north along the Lagos–Ibadan expressway, officers arrested 55-year-old Wasiu Kareem on Saturday, 29th November. He was found in possession of 8,000 ampoules of pentazocine injection, 590 bottles of codeine syrup, 1,500 Co-codamol tablets, and 9,900 capsules of tramadol.
In Ondo State, no fewer than seven suspects were arrested during a raid on Ipe Forest in Akoko South-East on Monday, 24th November. Operatives recovered 3,077 kilogrammes of skunk. The suspects include John Ede, Ede Ndubuisi, Ikenna Abe, Eze Chukwuma, Maduabuchi Odo, Nnaji Chudubem, and Gorge Okowor.
In Kogi State, officers arrested 49-year-old Anthony Sylvester on Wednesday, 26th November, while he was transporting 649 kilogrammes of skunk along the Okene–Lokoja highway.
At the Seme border area of Badagry, NDLEA operatives raided a warehouse in Ashipa on Friday, 28th November. They arrested 33-year-old Abubakar Shuaibu with 487 blocks of skunk weighing 243.5 kilogrammes.
In Kano, 47-year-old Tsalha Alasan was arrested with 137 kilogrammes of skunk along the Zaria–Kano road on Monday, 24th November. Meanwhile, in Bauchi State, three suspects – Godspower Appeal, 50; Ernest Upong, 55; and Godday Chukwudi, 38 – were intercepted at Fanshanu village, Toro LGA, on Wednesday, 26th November with 322 blocks of skunk weighing 209 kilogrammes. A black Toyota Highlander (registration ABJ 533 EA) used to transport the drugs was confiscated.
Another haul was recorded along the Abuja–Jos highway on Saturday, 29th November, where 51-year-old John Ekojo was arrested with 210.15 kilogrammes of skunk.
In a disturbing twist, NDLEA operatives also intercepted arms trafficking disguised as agricultural transport. A couple – Abdullahi Abubakar, 45, and Jamila Abdullahi, 35 – were arrested on the Abuja–Kaduna highway with 725 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition concealed inside a sack of maize.
On Friday, 28th November, 20-year-old Awwal Sabiu was also arrested at the Abuja–Kaduna tollgate with 400 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.
Beyond enforcement, NDLEA commands nationwide intensified their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns. Awareness activities were conducted in schools, worship centres, workplaces, and communities.
Beneficiaries include Government Junior Technical School, Kofar Kudu, Kano; Bright Eyes International School, Abakaliki; dock workers and clearing agents at Tincan Port; Legacy International College, Nsukka; and Seatos School, Ikorodu, among others.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), praised officers across Lagos, Ondo, Oyo, Kogi, Kaduna, Kano, Seme and Bauchi Commands for their commitment.
He urged them to sustain the Agency’s balanced drug-control strategy combining enforcement with prevention.
