NDLEA Warns Parents Over Drug-Laced Cookies, Gummies

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has warned parents to pay closer attention to the snacks and confectionery products consumed by their children following the discovery of illicit substances hidden in cookies and gummies.

The agency said criminal groups were increasingly using ordinary-looking food products to smuggle prohibited substances into Nigeria, creating a potential risk for children and young people who may consume them without knowing their contents.

NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, issued the warning on Sunday while sharing images of products seized by the agency. He urged parents to be more watchful if their children frequently demand cookies and gummies, noting that some products may contain substances beyond their apparent ingredients.

The warning followed a major seizure by the Nigeria Customs Service at the Tin Can Island Port in Lagos, where officers intercepted two 40-foot containers carrying large quantities of cannabis-infused products.

The illicit items had been concealed among legitimate imports, including used vehicles, generators, batteries and fabrics. The seized consignment contained thousands of Delta-8 cannabis pre-roll cookies, cannabis-infused gummies and other cannabis-containing cookies.

The total street value of the seized products was estimated at about ₦373.8 million. The items were later transferred to the NDLEA for further investigation and action.

According to the drug enforcement agency, the products were imported from the United States and packaged to look like regular vegan snacks. Their colourful designs and appealing flavours could make them particularly attractive to children, teenagers and young adults.

The NDLEA said the development was a growing public health concern because unsuspecting consumers could ingest concentrated cannabis products without realising what they contained.

The agency therefore urged parents and guardians to carefully examine products brought into their homes and remain alert to unfamiliar snacks, particularly those with labels or packaging suggesting that they contain cannabis-derived ingredients.

The warning also comes as authorities intensify efforts to prevent illicit drugs from entering the country through commercial imports and other channels.