By Nkechi Eze
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has raised a serious alarm over the circulation of dangerous illicit substances falsely packaged and sold across the country as medicinal cannabis, warning that the products are highly toxic and pose grave risks to public health.
In a statement signed by the Agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA disclosed that the alert followed a major intelligence-led operation that led to the arrest of a 28-year-old suspected drug kingpin, Afeez Salisu, popularly known as Malu, on Saturday, November 1, 2025. He was apprehended at 2 Akala Street, off Umoru Street, Idi Oro, Mushin, Lagos, where he allegedly packaged and distributed fake medicinal cannabis disguised in designer pouches and cups.
According to the statement, operatives recovered a total of 16.4 kilograms of highly potent and synthetic cannabis strains, including Colorado, Arizona, Canadian Loud, and Ghana Loud, all deceitfully labelled and marketed as “medicinal cannabis.” The Agency described the seizure as a major breakthrough in its intensified efforts to dismantle networks peddling dangerous narcotics under deceptive branding.
The NDLEA cautioned members of the public, especially young people, against falling for the misleading claims associated with these products, stressing that they are neither medically approved nor safe. The substances, the Agency revealed, are in fact adulterated and dangerously potent, containing high concentrations of illicit and synthetic variants known to cause severe mental and physical health complications.
“Investigations by the Agency have confirmed that the seized products being peddled as therapeutic cannabis contain dangerously high concentrations of harmful strains, including Loud, which is known for its extreme potency and severe psychological effects; Arizona, a destructive and concentrated variant; and Colorado, a potent synthetic strain notorious for its devastating impact on users,” the statement said.
The Agency further explained that these variants, often sold in fancy packaging, are highly addictive and present a serious threat to public health and safety, particularly among young people. Health experts have linked their consumption to severe mental health disorders such as psychosis, acute anxiety, paranoia, and long-term cognitive impairments, which can destroy lives and families.
Reacting to the development, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), described the operation as a timely intervention against a new form of criminal deception exploiting public ignorance and global conversations around cannabis use.
According to Marwa, the criminal network behind this trade is deliberately taking advantage of the ongoing international debate about medicinal cannabis to push dangerous, illegal substances into Nigerian communities under false pretences.
“The criminal elements behind this deceit are only exploiting the global conversation around medicinal cannabis to push their illicit and life-destroying products into our communities,” Marwa stated. “Cannabis remains a prohibited substance in Nigeria and as such, any product being sold locally under the guise of ‘medicinal cannabis’ is not only fake and dangerous but also illegal.”
He emphasized that no form of cannabis currently being sold in Nigeria has been approved by any relevant health authority or government agency for medicinal purposes. Marwa therefore urged Nigerians to be vigilant and not be deceived by misleading labels, designer packaging, or false health claims, which are merely tactics used by drug cartels to attract unsuspecting consumers.
“Please do not consume such products and do not be fooled by their packaging. Report any person or group involved in the trade or distribution of these dangerous substances to the nearest NDLEA office,” the NDLEA Chairman warned.
The Agency reiterated its commitment to protecting Nigerians from the growing menace of synthetic and deceptive drug formulations being introduced into the local market under misleading names. It assured that investigations are ongoing to identify and dismantle other members of the syndicate connected to the fake medicinal cannabis network.
