NDLEA uncovers synthetic cannabis lab in Lagos, arrests many suspects nationwide in major drug busts

NDLEA uncovers synthetic cannabis lab in Lagos, arrests many suspects nationwide in major drug busts

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dismantled a clandestine laboratory producing Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis, in a residential building at Ajao Estate, Isolo, Lagos. The operation led to the arrest of 30-year-old Stephen Kelechi Imoh, the alleged mastermind behind the facility.

According to a statement released on Sunday by Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy at NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, the discovery followed months of intelligence gathering after officers intercepted shipments of freshly produced Colorado in Lagos earlier this year. The bust confirms suspicions that the previously imported psychoactive substance is now being manufactured locally.

During the raid, NDLEA operatives recovered:

• 16.2kg of freshly cooked Colorado
• 1.7kg of ADB-CHMNACA Cannabinol
• 4.5kg of Potassium Carbonate
• 91 litres of Dibromobutane

In a separate operation in Mushin, Lagos, NDLEA officers arrested 28-year-old Afeez Salisu (alias Malu) and seized 16 compressed blocks of Ghana Loud cannabis and designer sachets and bottles of Colorado weighing 16.4kg.

The agency also apprehended 20-year-old music artist Godspower George Osahenrumwen, known as “Steady Boy,” who attempted to collect a shipment of Loud cannabis concealed in bathtubs imported from New York. The consignment, weighing 77.2kg, was intercepted at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) in Ikeja. His manager, Zion Osazee Omigie (alias Zee Money), is currently at large.

Nationwide, NDLEA intensified its crackdown on drug trafficking:

• In Kaduna, 84,710 capsules of tramadol were intercepted en route to Bauchi, leading to the arrest of Musa Abdulkarim, 27.
• Hamza Musa, 47, was caught with 32,946 bottles of Akuskura, a new psychoactive substance.
• Saidu Nafiu, 30, was arrested with 131.5kg of skunk in Igabi LGA.

In Ogun State, three suspects—Seun Olaniyi, Rauf Asogba, and Ayinla Adeniyi—were arrested with 1,779kg of skunk after being tracked from Benin Republic. In Bauchi, Jamilu Mustapha (alias Last Card) was caught with 596.4kg of skunk.

Further seizures included:

• 532,600 pills of tramadol and exol-5 in Kwara State
• 1,455kg of skunk in Edo State
• 2,829kg of skunk in Ondo State linked to Mrs. Ige Olarewaju
• 76.5 litres of skuchies in Badagry, Lagos
• 30,370 pills of tramadol and 177 grams of methamphetamine in Taraba State

The NDLEA also continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization campaign across schools and communities nationwide, including outreach in Oyo, Lagos, Sokoto, Jigawa, and Kano States.

Chairman/CEO of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the agency’s operatives for their professionalism and pledged continued efforts to dismantle drug syndicates and ensure forfeiture of their assets to the Federal Government.

NDLEA uncovers synthetic cannabis lab in Lagos, arrests many suspects nationwide in major drug busts