Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have uncovered a sophisticated drug distribution network that packaged illicit substances as imported Christmas cookies and snacks. Two masterminds of the syndicate were arrested following a raid on their hideout in the Lekki area of Lagos.

According to the NDLEA, the syndicate—run by Deji Adesanya and Olubiyi Majekodunmi—imported Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, and concealed it in colourful designer sachets branded with cookie and snack labels. The group reportedly distributed the substances through a WhatsApp platform.

Acting on credible intelligence, operatives raided the suspects’ apartment on Ojulari Street, Ikate, Lekki, on Saturday, 22 November 2025, recovering a large quantity of the designer packaging materials and 5kg of Loud.

In a separate operation, NDLEA personnel on Thursday, 27 November, arrested Philip Ucheka, 38, at Ladipo, Mushin, while he was taking delivery of 110 pouches of Canadian Loud weighing 55.6kg. Three delivery vehicles linked to the illicit distribution chain were seized.

The agency also intercepted 100 grams of Loud hidden in a teddy bear imported from Thailand at a courier facility in Lagos on the same day. Another consignment—548 capsules of tramadol concealed in Vitamin C and Magnesium bottles and destined for the United Kingdom—was intercepted at a different logistics company on Friday, 28 November.

In Oyo State, operatives on patrol along the Lagos–Ibadan expressway arrested Wasiu Kareem, 55, on Saturday, 29 November, with 8,000 ampoules of pentazocine, 590 bottles of codeine syrup, 1,500 Co-codamol pills, and 9,900 tramadol capsules.

A major raid was also conducted on Monday, 24 November, at the Ipe forest in Akoko South-East, Ondo State, where 3,077kg of skunk was recovered. Seven suspects were arrested, including John Ede, Ede Ndubuisi, Ikenna Abe, Eze Chukwuma, Maduabuchi Odo, Nnaji Chudubem, and Gorge Okowor.

In Kogi State, Anthony Sylvester, 49, was arrested along the Okene–Lokoja highway on Wednesday, 26 November, transporting 649kg of skunk in a truck. The same day, operatives in Seme raided a warehouse at Ashipa, Badagry, arresting Abubakar Shuaibu, 33, and recovering 487 blocks of skunk weighing 243.5kg.

Further arrests include:

Tsalha Alasan, 47, with 137kg of skunk along the Zaria–Kano road on Monday, 24 November.

Godspower Appeal, 50; Ernest Upong, 55; and Godday Chukwudi, 38, arrested on Wednesday, 26 November with 322 blocks of skunk (209kg) in Fanshanu village, Toro LGA, Bauchi State. A black Toyota Highlander (ABJ 533 EA) used for transport was seized.

John Ekojo, 51, arrested with 210.15kg of skunk along the Abuja–Jos highway on Saturday, 29 November.

A couple, Abdullahi Abubakar, 45, and Jamila Abdullahi, 35, arrested along the Abuja–Kaduna highway with 725 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition concealed in a sack of maize.

Awwal Sabiu, 20, arrested at the Abuja–Kaduna tollgate on Friday, 28 November, with 400 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.

Meanwhile, NDLEA Commands across the country continued War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities in schools, worship centres, workplaces, and communities. Outreach programmes were conducted at Government Junior Technical School, Kofar Kudu (Kano); Bright Eyes International School, Abakaliki; Tincan Port (Lagos); Legacy International College, Nsukka; and Seatos School, Ikorodu, among others.

NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd.), commended officers across Lagos, Ondo, Oyo, Kogi, Kaduna, Kano, Seme, and Bauchi Commands for their successful operations. He urged them to sustain the agency’s balanced and strategic approach in combating drug trafficking nationwide.