NDLEA Uncovers Drugs Packaged As Christmas Cookies, Arrests Suspects

The operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have dismantled a social media drug network responsible for distributing illicit substances packaged as imported Christmas cookies and snacks in the Lekki area of Lagos State.

In a statement released on Sunday, NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi announced that two individuals suspected of being the masterminds behind the operation were arrested in Lagos.

“Operatives of the NDLEA have uncovered and dismantled a social media network used to distribute illicit substances that were packaged as imported Christmas cookies and snacks. Two masterminds were arrested and taken into custody following a raid on their hideout in Lekki,” the statement read.

The drug syndicate was operated by Deji Adesanya and Olubiyi Majekodunmi, who imported consignments of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, and used a variety of colorful designer sachets with images and labels of cookies and snacks printed on them to package the psychoactive substance in retail quantities.

After receiving credible intelligence about the syndicate’s activities, which operated through a WhatsApp platform, NDLEA operatives conducted a raid on their apartment on Ojulari Street in the Ikate area of Lekki on Saturday, November 22, 2025. During the raid, a large quantity of designer sachets and 5 kilograms of Loud were recovered.

In a separate operation in Lagos, operatives arrested 38-year-old drug kingpin Philip Ucheka in the Ladipo area of Mushin while he was taking delivery of 110 pouches of Canadian Loud weighing 55.6 kilograms. Three delivery vehicles used for distribution were also impounded.

The statement continued, “In another operation on Thursday, November 27, NDLEA operatives arrested 38-year-old Philip Ucheka while he was receiving 110 pouches of Canadian Loud weighing 55.6 kilograms in the Ladipo area of Mushin. At the time of his arrest, three delivery vehicles were seized.”

At a courier company in Lagos, officers intercepted 100 grams of Loud concealed inside a teddy bear imported from Thailand on Thursday, November 27. Additionally, 548 capsules of tramadol hidden in bottles of Vitamin C and Magnesium, destined for the United Kingdom, were recovered from another logistics firm the following day, Friday, November 28, Babafemi stated.

In Oyo State, officers arrested 55-year-old Wasiu Kareem, who was found in possession of 8,000 ampoules of pentazocine, 590 bottles of codeine syrup, 1,500 Co-codamol pills, and 9,900 tramadol capsules.