The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has warned Nigerians about the circulation of fake medical cannabis packaged and marketed to the public.
Naijaonpoint reports that the Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, in a statement on Tuesday, disclosed that the dangerous illicit substances were uncovered following credible intelligence, which led to the arrest of a 28-year-old drug kingpin, Afeez Salisu, also known as Malu, on Saturday, November 1, 2025.
Femi stated that Malu was arrested at 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.
According to the statement, 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.
NDLEA further warned Nigerians, especially the youth, that the fake 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.
The agency emphasised that investigations also 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.
Rather than the purported medicinal cannabis in the designer pouches and cups, the strains are highly addictive and pose a significant, immediate threat to public health and safety because they are associated with severe mental health issues, including psychosis, acute anxiety, paranoia, and other long-term cognitive impairments, especially among young people.
Speaking on the development, Chairman of NDLEA, Brig Gen, Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), urged the public to be vigilant and not be deceived by misleading labels, fancy packaging, or false health claims.
He added, “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, and dangerous but also illegal.
“Please do not consume it, report any person or group involved in the illicit trade of these dangerous substances to the nearest NDLEA office.”
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