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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has warned Nigerians against receiving consignments from relatives and friends abroad without first confirming their contents.
The agency said the warning became necessary following an emerging trend in which illicit drugs are allegedly concealed in consolidated cargoes sent to Nigeria.
NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, issued the warning in a post on his official X handle on Sunday.
Babafemi said some Nigerians living abroad were allegedly sending consolidated cargoes containing illicit drugs, particularly Colorado and Loud strains of cannabis, to family members and friends in Nigeria.
He said unsuspecting recipients were sometimes listed as consignees or recipients of the packages, exposing them to possible arrest and prosecution.
“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 advised Nigerians who are not involved in drug trafficking to reject requests to receive consignments on behalf of people abroad, especially when they are unaware of the full 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 the NDLEA spokesman, several Nigerians have already been arrested over such consignments, with the number increasing as operatives intensify enforcement operations across the country.
He cautioned that recipients could face criminal liability for illicit drugs allegedly concealed in packages sent by others.
“Many are already behind bars for this and the number keeps increasing with daily operations by NDLEA officers,” he said.
Babafemi urged Nigerians to exercise caution and avoid accepting unknown packages, stressing that doing so could expose them to serious legal consequences.
“Please heed this warning and save yourself of the jail experience,” he added.
