The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has warned the Nigerian public about dangerous illicit drugs being falsely marketed as medicinal cannabis.
The alert comes after the arrest of 28-year-old drug kingpin, Afeez Salisu (a.k.a Malu), on November 1st.
NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Mr. Femi Babafemi, stated that Salisu was apprehended at his Mushin, Lagos, residence where the fake medicinal cannabis was being packaged and distributed.
The statement emailed to Persecondnews reads: “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.
“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.
“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.”
Reacting to the seizure of the illegal substances, NDLEA Chairman/CEO, retired Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Buba 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, and dangerous but also illegal.”
The NDLEA boss urged the public to be vigilant and not be deceived by misleading labels, fancy packaging, or false health claims.
“Please do not consume it, report any person or group involved in the illicit trade of these dangerous substances to the nearest NDLEA office,” he said.
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