Cynthia Ezegwu
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has issued a public alert warning Nigerians about the circulation of illicit drugs being sold as medicinal cannabis in parts of the country.
The agency said credible intelligence led to the arrest of a 28-year-old suspect, identified as Afeez Salisu, also known as Malu, on November 1, 2025, at 2 Akala Street, Idi Oro, Mushin, Lagos.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, the suspect was allegedly packaging and distributing synthetic and high-potency cannabis strains in designer pouches and cups labelled as medicinal cannabis.
According to Babafemi, 16.4 kilograms of the illicit substances, including strains identified as Colorado, Arizona, Canadian Loud, and Ghana Loud, were recovered from the suspect’s storage location.
He warned that the seized products, falsely marketed as medicinal cannabis, were in fact dangerous and highly potent psychoactive substances capable of causing severe mental and physical health issues.
“The Agency therefore wishes to warn Nigerians, especially the youth, that these so-called medicinal products are, in reality, adulterated and highly potent strains of dangerous psychoactive substances. They are not the regulated, safe pharmaceutical preparations they are purported to be,” the statement read in part.
Babafemi explained that investigations confirmed the substances contained dangerously high concentrations of harmful cannabis variants associated with psychosis, acute anxiety, paranoia, and long-term cognitive impairments.
READ ALSO: PHOTOS: NDLEA Uncovers Secret Colorado Factory, Nabs Owner in Lagos
NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), said the suspects were exploiting public interest in medicinal cannabis to promote illegal drug sales, adding that cannabis remains a prohibited substance in Nigeria.
“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. 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, but also dangerous and illegal,” Marwa said.
He urged Nigerians, particularly young people, not to be deceived by attractive packaging or false health claims and to report anyone involved in the sale or distribution of such products to the nearest NDLEA office.
The latest warning follows a series of arrests involving substances marketed as wellness or therapeutic products, even though no medicinal cannabis product has been approved for use or sale in Nigeria.