November 02, (THEWILL) — Nigeria’s anti-drug war recorded a major breakthrough at the weekend, as operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) busted a clandestine laboratory producing a dangerous synthetic cannabis strain known as “Colorado” or “Colos” in Ajao Estate, Isolo, Lagos.
The agency, in a statement signed on Sunday by its Spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said the lab, tucked inside a residential apartment, was uncovered after months of intelligence-led surveillance triggered by earlier interceptions of locally processed Colorado consignments in Lagos in March and May.
While the discoveries raised suspicions that the previously imported psychoactive substance was now being produced in Nigeria, Babafemi said during Thursday’s raid, operatives arrested the 30-year-old alleged owner, Stephen Kelechi Imoh, and recovered 16.2kg of freshly-cooked Colos, 1.7kg of ADB-CHMNACA Cannabinol, 4.5kg of potassium carbonate and 91 litres of dibromobutane, among other precursor chemicals.
The agency noted that the suspect had converted the building into a full-scale illicit drug production facility.
The anti-narcotics agency intensified follow-up operations across Lagos, arresting another suspected dealer, Afeez Salisu, a.k.a. “Malu”, in Mushin on Saturday. He was allegedly found with 16 compressed blocks of Ghana-grown Loud and branded designer Colorado sachets and bottles weighing 16.4kg.
In a separate operation, NDLEA agents apprehended a 20-year-old rising music artist, Godspower George Osahenrumwen, known as Steady Boy, as he attempted to take delivery of a large Loud shipment concealed inside imported bathtubs. The consignment, flown into Lagos from New York aboard a DHL flight, contained 140 bags of Loud weighing 77.2kg.
He was arrested at a Lekki apartment when he reportedly arrived to collect the shipment on behalf of a drug syndicate. The agency said his manager, identified as Zion Osazee Omigie a.k.a “Zee Money”, is now on the run.
Nationwide interdiction operations also yielded major seizures. In Kaduna, operatives intercepted 84,710 tramadol capsules en route from Onitsha to Bauchi, leading to the arrest of a 27-year-old recipient. Additional arrests followed along the Abuja-Kaduna axis, where officers recovered 32,946 bottles of the new psychoactive substance Akuskura and 131.5kg of skunk.
In Ogun State, three suspects — Seun Olaniyi, 24; Rauf Asogba, 28; and Ayinla Adeniyi, 50 — were trailed from Benin Republic and arrested in Abeokuta with a staggering 1,779kg of skunk. In Bauchi, a suspect, Jamilu Mustapha, a.k.a “Last Card”, was caught with 596.4kg of the same substance.
Kwara State officers seized 532,600 pills of tramadol and Exol-5 in Ilorin, while in Edo, NDLEA patrols intercepted 1,455kg of skunk inside two Toyota Sienna vehicles. Ondo Command also seized 2,829kg tied to a female suspect, Mrs Ige Olarewaju, alongside a separate 737kg linked to another suspect in Akure.
Additional raids in Badagry and Taraba netted skuchies, methamphetamine, tramadol pills and arrests linked to inter-state trafficking routes spanning Lagos, Onitsha and Yola.
Meanwhile, NDLEA commands nationwide sustained community-based War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) enlightenment in schools, religious centres and workplaces in states including Oyo, Lagos, Sokoto, Jigawa and Kano.
Commending his officers, the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), hailed the “resilience, professionalism and balanced operational approach” of personnel across commands. He vowed to dismantle all drug syndicates and ensure forfeiture of assets linked to narcotics trafficking.
“We will continue to pursue them, block their supply chains, dismantle their networks and deprive them of criminal proceeds”, Marwa said.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
