The Oyo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has raised concerns about the increasing abuse of potent synthetic cannabis variants among youths in the state.
The alarm was sounded by the State Narcotics Commander, Mr. Olayinka Joe-Fadile, during a major drug incineration event held at Ipara, Ogun State, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Speaking on the sidelines of the public destruction of over 1.6 million kilograms of seized illicit substances on Saturday, Joe-Fadile decried the growing trend of young people consuming dangerous variants of cannabis commonly referred to as “loud.”
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These strains, including names like Scottish Loud, Canadian Loud, and Arizona Loud, are reportedly more expensive and more potent than traditional cannabis.
“These loud drugs are even more expensive and more dangerous than Cannabis sativa,” he said.
He described the impact of these substances as deeply destructive, warning that users often underestimate the long-term damage.
“You may think the drug is giving you inspiration now, but it will eventually kill slowly and painfully,” Joe-Fadile cautioned.
He urged Nigerian youths to steer clear of drugs, emphasizing that they are the future of the nation and must preserve their health and potential.
Joe-Fadile also acknowledged the collaboration between various NDLEA commands which made the joint incineration possible. According to him, this coordinated effort, involving Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, MMIA, and border posts like Seme and Idiroko, highlights the growing unity in Nigeria’s fight against drug trafficking and abuse.
He emphasised that synergy across commands was key to achieving such a large-scale operation, a departure from the previous method of individual state-level incinerations.
