NDLEA Dismantles Synthetic Cannabis Lab in Lagos, Arrests Suspects Nationwide
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have busted a clandestine laboratory used for the production of Colorado (also known as Colos), a potent synthetic strain of cannabis, in Ajao Estate, Isolo, Lagos State.
The operation led to the arrest of a 30-year-old suspect, Stephen Kelechi Imoh, and the recovery of large quantities of freshly produced drugs and precursor chemicals.
The laboratory’s discovery followed months of intelligence operations after earlier seizures of locally produced Colos in Lagos suggested that the once-imported psychoactive substance was now being manufactured within Nigeria.
During the Thursday, October 30 raid, NDLEA operatives recovered 16.2 kilograms of freshly cooked Colos, 1.7 kilograms of ADB-CHMNACA Cannabinol, 4.5 kilograms of Potassium Carbonate, and 91 litres of Dibromobutane, all used in the production process.
In another operation in Mushin, Lagos, a 28-year-old suspected dealer, Afeez Salisu (alias Malu), was arrested with 16 compressed blocks of Ghana Loud, a strain of cannabis, alongside designer sachets and bottles of Colorado weighing 16.4kg.
Similarly, NDLEA officers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, intercepted a large consignment of Loud cannabis concealed inside bathtubs imported from the United States. A 20-year-old music artist, Godspower George Osahenrumwen, known by his stage name Steady Boy, was arrested while attempting to collect the shipment.
According to the NDLEA, the consignment, which arrived via a DHL flight from New York on October 28, contained 140 bags of Loud weighing 77.2kg. The suspect allegedly attempted to take delivery on behalf of a drug syndicate linked to his manager, Zion Osazee Omigie (a.k.a Zee Money), who is now on the run.
Nationwide Raids Yield Massive Drug Seizures
In Kaduna State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a consignment of 84,710 tramadol capsules along the Abuja–Jos Highway on October 26. A follow-up operation in Bauchi led to the arrest of Musa Abdulkarim, 27, the intended recipient.
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Two days later, another suspect, Hamza Musa, 47, was caught transporting 32,946 bottles of Akuskura, a new psychoactive substance, while Saidu Nafiu, 30, was arrested with 131.5kg of skunk in Igabi LGA, Kaduna.
In Ogun State, three suspects — Seun Olaniyi (24), Rauf Asogba (28), and Ayinla Adeniyi (50) — were arrested in Abeokuta with 1,779kg of skunk. NDLEA officers had tracked the suspects from Benin Republic before intercepting their bus along Abiola Way.
Further seizures included 596.4kg of skunk in Bauchi, 532,600 pills of tramadol and exol-5 in Ilorin, and 1,455kg of skunk from two Toyota Sienna buses in Edo State.
In Ondo State, operatives recovered 2,829kg of skunk linked to a 32-year-old woman, Mrs. Ige Olarewaju, and arrested another suspect, Samuel Adebayo, with 737kg of the same drug.
In Badagry, Lagos, NDLEA agents seized 76.5 litres of “skuchies”, a cocktail of black currant, skunk, and opioids, from Ige Oluwale, 50. Similarly, in Taraba State, two suspects — Musbahu Abdullahi (28) and Saleiman Ahmed (25) — were caught transporting 30,370 tramadol pills and 177 grams of methamphetamine from Onitsha to Yola.
NDLEA Sustains WADA Sensitization Nationwide
Beyond enforcement, NDLEA commands across the country intensified the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign with sensitization lectures in schools, workplaces, and religious institutions. Some of the schools visited include Aroje/Abaa Community High School, Ogbomoso (Oyo State); Amazing Flower Secondary School, Ikorodu (Lagos); Government Day Secondary School, Ilelah (Sokoto); Government Day Secondary School, Darina (Jigawa); and Royal Star Academy, Bebeji (Kano).
Marwa Commends Operatives’ Resilience
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd.), commended the operatives for their “resilience, professionalism, and balanced approach” in executing the agency’s drug control mandate.
He vowed that NDLEA would continue to target and dismantle all drug syndicates across the country while ensuring that their assets are forfeited to the Federal Government.
“We will not allow criminals to profit from the proceeds of their illicit trade. Every identified syndicate will be dismantled, and their traceable assets seized,” Marwa assured.
By PRNigeria
