The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has urged parents to pay closer attention to the snacks and confectionery products consumed by children and teenagers following the discovery of illicit substances packaged as cookies and gummies.
The agency said the seizures were part of recent enforcement operations aimed at stopping traffickers from disguising prohibited drugs as ordinary food products.
NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, issued the warning on Sunday, sharing images of some of the seized items and urging parents to be more vigilant about products that may appear harmless.
He said unusual cravings for cookies and gummies should not automatically be dismissed as a preference for sweets, particularly when the products are unfamiliar or obtained from questionable sources.
“As parents, if your kids and young ones always crave for cookies and gummies, you may have to pay a little more attention. There may be more to it than ordinary cookies and gummies.”
Photographs released by the agency showed brightly packaged products labelled “Cookies Delta 8 Gummies.” The packages were marketed in flavours including Hawaiian Rain Pineapple Guava and Thai Mango and carried descriptions such as “vegan” and “hemp-derived.”
NDLEA raises concern over disguised drugs
The agency said the discovery illustrates a growing concern over attempts by criminal networks to make controlled substances look like familiar consumer products.
By presenting drugs in colourful packaging associated with sweets and snacks, traffickers can potentially make the substances less conspicuous and increase the risk of accidental consumption, particularly among younger people.
NDLEA therefore advised parents and guardians to examine products brought home by children, especially unfamiliar cookies, gummies, sweets or other edible products whose ingredients, source or packaging cannot be verified.
The agency also encouraged members of the public to report suspected drug-related activities to law enforcement authorities.
The warning comes as NDLEA continues its nationwide campaign against the trafficking and distribution of illicit substances, including efforts to intercept drugs before they reach consumers.
Parents, the agency stressed, have an important role to play by knowing what their children consume, where such products come from and whether their packaging and contents can be verified.
