Drug Agency Warns Parents Over Cannabis-Laced Cookies and Gummies Targeting Children
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has warned parents to closely monitor the snacks consumed by their children following the interception of cannabis-infused cookies, gummies and other confectionery products being brought into Nigeria.
The agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, issued the warning on Sunday, urging parents to pay particular attention to children who frequently request cookies and gummies, as some products may be used to conceal illicit drugs.
Babafemi said recent seizures by NDLEA operatives had uncovered attempts by criminal networks to introduce prohibited substances into the country disguised as ordinary snacks. He urged parents to examine unfamiliar products brought home by children or purchased from questionable sources.
The development follows earlier seizures of cannabis-infused candies in Lagos. In March 2025, NDLEA officers discovered imported candies containing a potent cannabis strain at a children’s store, with the agency warning that the products appeared to have been intended for sale to children.
The agency has also previously uncovered illicit cannabis concealed in packaging designed to resemble cookies and other food products. In November 2025, NDLEA said it dismantled a Lagos-based drug distribution network that allegedly packaged Canadian Loud, a potent cannabis strain, in colourful sachets resembling imported snacks.
The latest warning highlights growing concerns over the use of attractive food packaging to conceal psychoactive substances and potentially make them easier for young people to access.
NDLEA has urged parents, schools and retailers to remain vigilant and to report suspicious products or suspected drug-related activities to law-enforcement authorities.
The agency’s warning comes amid broader concerns over the availability of illicit and high-potency cannabis products in Nigeria, particularly products deliberately packaged to resemble everyday consumer goods.
Authorities have stressed that parents should not assume that brightly packaged sweets, gummies or cookies are harmless, particularly when the products are imported, lack proper labelling or are obtained through unofficial channels.
