The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has issued a public alert about the circulation of dangerous illicit drugs being falsely marketed as medicinal cannabis.
According to the agency, credible intelligence led to the arrest of a 28-year-old suspect, Afeez Salisu (also known as Malu), on November 1, 2025, at 2 Akala Street, Idi Oro, Mushin, Lagos.
In a statement released on Wednesday, NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said the suspect was found packaging and distributing synthetic and high-potency cannabis strains in designer pouches and cups labelled as medicinal cannabis.
He said a total of 16.4 kilograms of the substances were recovered, including strains identified as Colorado, Arizona, Canadian Loud, and Ghana Loud.
Babafemi said, “The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has alerted the Nigerian public about the circulation of dangerous illicit substances being falsely packaged and marketed to the public as medicinal cannabis. The public alert comes on the heels of credible intelligence, which led to the arrest of a 28-year-old drug kingpin, Afeez Salisu (a.k.a Malu), on Saturday 1st November 2025, at his 2 Akala Street, off Umoru Street, Idi Oro, Mushin-Lagos enclave, from where he was packaging and distributing the fake medicinal cannabis in designer pouches and cups. A total of 16.4 kilograms of dangerous and synthetic strains of cannabis, including Colorado, Arizona, Canadian Loud, and Ghana Loud, packaged in designer pouches and cups labelled as medicinal cannabis, were recovered from his store.”
He warned that the seized products, sold as medicinal cannabis, were actually dangerous psychoactive substances that could have severe health consequences.
Babafemi added, “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, and are not the regulated, safe pharmaceutical preparations they are purported to be. Investigations by the Agency have confirmed that the seized and recovered products being peddled under the guise of therapeutic cannabis contain dangerously high concentrations of illicit and harmful strains of cannabis, including Loud, known for its extreme potency and severe psychological effects; Arizona, a highly concentrated and destructive variant of cannabis; and Colorado, a potent, often synthetic, strain with devastating consequences on the user’s mental and physical health.”
He explained that rather than being medicinal, the substances were highly addictive and posed an immediate threat to public health, leading to mental health issues such as psychosis, paranoia, anxiety, and long-term cognitive damage, especially among young people.
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NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), also condemned those behind the act, saying they were taking advantage of the global conversation on medicinal cannabis to promote illegal drugs.
Marwa said, “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.”
He urged Nigerians not to be deceived by the branding or health claims attached to such products and called on the public to report anyone involved in their sale or distribution to the nearest NDLEA office.
Marwa added, “Please do not consume it. Report any person or group involved in the illicit trade of these dangerous substances to the nearest NDLEA office.”
The NDLEA noted that the latest alert is part of an ongoing effort to curb the spread of fake wellness and therapeutic products being used as a front for illicit drugs, reiterating that no medicinal cannabis product has been approved for sale or use in Nigeria.