The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has warned Nigerians against accepting consignments from relatives and friends abroad without first confirming their contents, following an emerging trend of illicit drugs being concealed in consolidated cargo shipments.
The warning was issued by the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, in a post on his official X account on Sunday.
Babafemi said some Nigerians living abroad were allegedly sending consolidated cargoes containing illicit drugs, particularly cannabis strains known as Colorado and Loud, to family members and friends in Nigeria.
He noted that unsuspecting recipients were sometimes listed as consignees or designated recipients of the shipments, potentially exposing them to arrest and prosecution.
“Some of our ‘abroad’ people are sending home consolidated cargoes contaminated with illicit drugs, especially Colorado and Loud, putting their family members and friends as consignees or recipients,” Babafemi said.
He urged Nigerians who have no involvement in drug trafficking to avoid accepting consignments on behalf of people abroad, particularly when they are uncertain about the contents.
“The warning here is, if you’re not part of the syndicate, don’t accept to receive consignments on behalf of your ‘abroad’ brother or sister or friend, particularly if you don’t know the full content of the consignment,” he said.
Babafemi disclosed that several Nigerians had already been arrested in connection with such consignments, warning that the number of arrests was increasing as NDLEA operatives intensified enforcement operations nationwide.
“Many are already behind bars for this and the number keeps increasing with daily operations by NDLEA officers,” he said.
The NDLEA spokesman urged members of the public to exercise caution and avoid accepting packages whose contents they cannot verify, warning that doing so could expose them to criminal liability for illicit drugs allegedly concealed by others.
“Please heed this warning and save yourself from the jail experience,” he added.
