National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has warned Nigerians against accepting consignments from relatives and friends abroad without first confirming what the packages contain.
Gatekeepers News reports that the warning was issued by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, amid what the NDLEA described as an emerging pattern of illicit drugs being concealed in consolidated cargoes sent into Nigeria.
Babafemi said some Nigerians living abroad were allegedly sending cargoes containing illicit substances, particularly cannabis strains known as Colorado and Loud, to family members and friends in Nigeria.
He said unsuspecting recipients were sometimes listed as the consignees of the packages, exposing them to possible arrest and prosecution if drugs were discovered in the consignments.
“RED ALERT! The new thing now is that 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 are not involved in drug trafficking to reject requests to receive packages on behalf of people abroad when they are unsure of 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.
According to Babafemi, some Nigerians have already been arrested and detained over similar consignments, with the number expected to rise as the agency continues its daily operations against drug trafficking networks.
“Many are already behind bars for this and the number keeps increasing with daily operations by NDLEA officers. Please heed this warning and save yourself of the jail experience,” he said.
The NDLEA’s warning comes as the agency continues to intercept illicit drugs concealed in different forms of cargo and luggage arriving in Nigeria. Its latest updates also include the interception of cannabis shipments from the United Kingdom and the recovery of opioids concealed in items such as loaves of bread and speakers.
The agency advised Nigerians to exercise caution before agreeing to receive or collect overseas consignments on behalf of relatives, friends or other acquaintances.
