Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has issued a public warning about the circulation of illicit and dangerous substances being falsely packaged and marketed as “medicinal cannabis.”
The alert follows a targeted operation in Lagos that led to the arrest of a 28-year-old suspect allegedly distributing highly potent, synthetic cannabis strains in designer pouches and cups.
Highly Potent Strains Recovered
The operation, which took place on November 1, 2025, in the Idi Oro area of Mushin, Lagos, resulted in the recovery of 16.4 kilograms of substances. These included illicit strains identified as Colorado, Arizona, Canadian Loud, and Ghana Loud.
The agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, warned that the seized products are not the regulated pharmaceutical preparations they claim to be, but are instead dangerously high concentrations of harmful psychoactive substances.
The NDLEA noted that the highly potent strains are associated with severe mental health issues, including psychosis, acute anxiety, and long-term cognitive impairments, particularly among young people.
Exploiting Public Interest
Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, stated that the criminal elements were “exploiting the global conversation around medicinal cannabis” to push their illegal products into Nigerian communities.
He stressed that cannabis remains a prohibited substance in Nigeria, and therefore, any product being sold locally under the guise of therapeutic use is both fake and illegal.
The NDLEA urged Nigerians, especially the youth, not to be misled by appealing packaging or purported health claims, and encouraged the public to report anyone involved in the distribution of these dangerous products.
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