The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has warned Nigerians against accepting consignments from relatives, friends or associates living abroad without first confirming the contents of such packages.
The agency said the warning became necessary following an emerging pattern in which illicit drugs are allegedly concealed in consolidated cargoes shipped from overseas to unsuspecting recipients in Nigeria.
NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, issued the warning in a post on X on Sunday, September 13, urging Nigerians to exercise caution when asked to receive or collect packages on behalf of people living outside the country.
According to Babafemi, some Nigerians abroad are allegedly sending consolidated cargoes containing illicit substances, particularly strains of cannabis commonly known as Colorado and Loud, to family members and friends in Nigeria.
He explained that unsuspecting individuals are sometimes listed as consignees or recipients of the shipments, thereby exposing them to possible arrest and prosecution when the illegal substances are discovered.
Babafemi stressed that Nigerians who are not members of drug trafficking networks should avoid accepting consignments on behalf of others, particularly when they do not know the complete contents of the packages.
He said the development had already resulted in the arrest and detention of several recipients, warning that the number of people caught in such circumstances was increasing as NDLEA operatives intensified their operations against drug trafficking.
“RED ALERT!” Babafemi wrote, drawing attention to what he described as a growing trend involving consolidated cargoes allegedly contaminated with illicit drugs.
He warned Nigerians not to allow themselves to be used as intermediaries by drug trafficking syndicates under the guise of helping relatives or friends abroad receive or clear packages.
The NDLEA spokesperson emphasised that receiving a package on behalf of another person does not necessarily protect the recipient from legal consequences if prohibited substances are found inside the consignment.
He therefore advised Nigerians to establish the contents and legitimacy of any package before agreeing to receive it, particularly when the sender is not personally handling the shipment.
The warning is particularly significant because consolidated cargoes typically contain goods belonging to multiple individuals and may be transported together under arrangements involving freight companies, shipping agents or other intermediaries. This, according to the agency, can create opportunities for criminal networks to conceal illicit substances among legitimate goods.
The NDLEA has continued to intensify its efforts to disrupt the trafficking, distribution and consumption of illegal drugs across Nigeria, including through surveillance, interdiction operations and arrests at airports, seaports, courier facilities and other entry points.
The agency’s latest warning is therefore aimed at preventing innocent Nigerians from becoming unintended participants in criminal activities.
Babafemi urged members of the public to take the warning seriously and avoid accepting packages simply because they were sent by relatives or trusted friends abroad.
He advised Nigerians to protect themselves by refusing consignments whose contents they cannot independently verify.
The NDLEA also urged anyone who suspects that a consignment may contain illicit drugs to report the matter to the appropriate authorities rather than taking possession of the package.
The agency’s message is clear: Nigerians should not allow goodwill, family relationships or friendship to expose them to criminal liability. Before accepting any overseas consignment, recipients should know exactly what is inside and who is responsible for sending it.
