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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has raised fresh alarm over the use of food items to conceal illicit substances, after operatives uncovered drugs hidden inside imported snacks.
In a statement shared by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA warned Nigerians against accepting delivery of international parcels on behalf of friends or contacts abroad, saying such decisions carry serious legal consequences.
Babafemi disclosed that criminal networks are increasingly using unsuspecting individuals as receivers of drug-laden packages sent through courier services, often disguising the contents as harmless goods.
He stressed that anyone listed as the official receiver of a parcel automatically assumes full responsibility for its contents, whether or not they were aware of the contents.
“When you’re arrested with the consignment here as the designated receiver of the goods, you bear the criminal liability of possession and conspiracy with jail as the end,” he said.
He explained that traffickers deliberately exploit trust within families and social networks to move illicit substances, making ordinary recipients part of the distribution chain without their knowledge.
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Babafemi advised Nigerians to insist on clear verification before accepting any international delivery, including requesting a live video confirmation during packaging.
“If you’re not part of the criminal conspiracy, don’t accept to receive parcels that you don’t know their full contents,” he warned.
He further stated that where verification is not possible, individuals should reject such parcels outright, regardless of persuasion or financial inducement.
The agency added that it is tightening surveillance across entry points and working with logistics companies to identify suspicious shipments earlier in the delivery chain.
According to NDLEA, public awareness remains a key tool in disrupting evolving smuggling tactics that increasingly rely on deception rather than direct trafficking.
