NDLEA Arrests Alleged Fake Medicinal Cannabis Kingpin, Warn Nigerians to be Wary
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have sounded the alarm over the circulation of products being sold as “medicinal cannabis,” saying laboratory checks show they contain hazardous and illegal substances.
The agency said the alert follows intelligence-led operations that culminated in the arrest of a suspected peddler in Lagos.
NDLEA public relations officials said the suspect, 28-year-old Afeez Salisu (aka “Malu”), was detained on Saturday, 1 November 2025, during a raid at a property on Akala Street, off Umoru Street, Idi-Oro, Mushin, Lagos.
The agency said the arrest uncovered items packaged to look like therapeutic cannabis but which, on analysis, contained other illicit compounds that are dangerous to health.
In a statement circulated to newsrooms, the NDLEA described the practice as a deliberate effort by unscrupulous traffickers to exploit growing demand for alternative remedies.
The agency warned consumers to be cautious of unregulated products and urged healthcare providers and pharmacists to verify sources before stocking or recommending any cannabis-labelled preparations.
The NDLEA also appealed to members of the public to report unusual sellers or adverts to law enforcement.
According to the statement, the agency recovered quantities of the suspect product during the Mushin operation and is working with forensic teams to determine the full composition of the seized materials.
Investigations are ongoing and more arrests may follow as the probe expands.
The warning comes amid a wider enforcement push against synthetic and adulterated cannabis products across Lagos and other states, where NDLEA teams in recent weeks have uncovered clandestine production sites and seized consignments of “Colos” (a synthetic cannabis variant) and other illicit blends.
Officials say producers are increasingly disguising harmful mixtures as herbal or “medicinal” to evade detection.
The agency reiterated that only authorised clinical products, prescribed by licensed medical practitioners and dispensed through regulated channels, should be used for medical purposes.
Anyone found manufacturing, distributing or marketing illegal drug-laced products faces prosecution under Nigeria’s drug laws.
Members of the public with useful information were asked to contact the NDLEA through official channels.
