The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has uncovered a secret laboratory in Ajao Estate, Isolo, Lagos, where Colorado (Colos), a synthetic cannabis strain, is being manufactured.
Officers discovered large amounts of freshly made Colos and several drug precursor chemicals, leading to the arrest of Stephen Kelechi Imoh, the 30-year-old suspected lab operator.
This breakthrough comes after months of intelligence operations prompted by earlier interceptions of Colos consignments in Lagos during March and May 2025. The seizures indicated a shift from imported supplies to local production of the psychoactive substance.
In coordinated raids across Kaduna, Edo, Kwara, Ogun, Taraba, Ondo, and Bauchi states, NDLEA operatives arrested a music artist and recovered tons of opioids and skunk cannabis, further disrupting the illicit drug trade nationwide.
A press release signed by Femi Babafemi Director, Media & Advocacy. NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, disclosed that the effort paid off on Thursday 30th October 2025 when NDLEA officers raided the residential apartment in Ajao estate, Isolo Lagos, which Kelechi converted to a laboratory for cooking Colos, a strain of cannabis produced with the psychoactive plant and various chemicals.
Recovered from the apartment include: freshly cooked Colos weighing 16.2 kilograms; ADB-CHMNACA Cannabinol -1.7kg; Potassium Carbonate -4.5kg and Dibromobutane - 91 litres.
In another operation in Lagos, NDLEA operatives on Saturday 1st November raided the enclave of a 28-year-old drug dealer Afeez Salisu (alias Malu) in Mushin, where 16 compressed blocks of Ghana Loud, a strain of cannabis as well as designer sachets and bottles of Colorado weighing 16.4kg were recovered from him.
A music artist, Godspower George Osahenrumwen, whose stage name is Steady Boy, was also on Thursday 30th October arrested by NDLEA operatives while attempting to take delivery of a large consignment of Loud, a strain of cannabis concealed inside three cartons of bathtub imported along with other items such as cloths and gadgets from New York, United States.
This followed the seizure of the shipment, which arrived the import shed of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos from US aboard a DHL flight on Tuesday 28th October, the press release also stated.
The 20-year-old music artist, according to the press statement, was nabbed at Bougain Villa, Primewater Gardens 2, Freedom way, Lekki, Lagos, when he showed up as the consignee to take delivery of the 140 bags of Loud with a gross weight of 77.20kg on behalf of a syndicate, which includes his manager, Zion Osazee Omigie (a.k.a Zee Money), who, it is gathered, is currently at large.
In Kaduna, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Abuja-Jos highway on Sunday 26th October, intercepted a consignment of 84,710 capsules of tramadol coming from Onitsha, Anambra State, and heading to Bauchi, the statement added. A follow up operation in Bauchi led to the arrest of the recipient Musa Abdulkarim, 27. Two days later, Tuesday 28th October, operatives at the tollgate along Abuja-Kaduna highway arrested Hamza Musa, 47, conveying 32, 946 bottles of Akuskura, a New Psychoactive Substance (NPS) from Lagos, while Saidu Nafiu, 30, was nabbed with 131.5kg skunk at Kamfanin Zangon Aya, Igabi LGA, Kaduna, Newsmart also learnt.
The statement noted: “Three suspects: Seun Olaniyi, 24; Rauf Asogba, 28; and Ayinla Adeniyi, 50, were on Saturday 1st November arrested at Abeokuta, Ogun state after a team of NDLEA officers tracked their movement from Benin Republic and eventually intercepted their bus along Abiola way, Abeokuta, with a total 1,779kg skunk recovered from them.
“While Jamilu Mustapha (a.k.a Last Card), 46, was arrested with 596.4kg skunk at Nasaru town, Ningi LGA, Bauchi State on Wednesday 29th October, no fewer than 532,600 pills of tramadol and exol-5 were recovered from the trio of Halilu Amiru; Rabiu Maikudi and Ibrahim Mati in a truck marked KTG- 791 ZZ at Oko-olowo, Ilorin, Kwara state same day.
“In Edo state, NDLEA officers on patrol along Okhokho - Isi community in Uhunmwode LGA on Wednesday 29th October intercepted two Toyota Sienna buses marked EPE 545 EV and ABC 142 CD conveying a total of 1,455kg skunk following credible intelligence.
“In like manner, operatives in Ondo state on Tuesday 28th October recovered a total of 2,829kg skunk linked to a 32-year-old female suspect Mrs. Ige Olarewaju from two locations at Ayede, Ogbese, while another suspect Samuel Adebayo was nabbed with 737kg of same psychoactive substance at Adegbola junction, Akure.
“No less than 76.5 litres of skuchies, a mixture of black currant, skunk and opioids were seized from a suspect Ige Oluwale, 50, who was arrested by NDLEA officers at Ibereko, Bagadry, Lagos on Friday 31st October, while a total of 30,370 pills of tramadol and 177 grams of methamphetamine were recovered from the duo of Musbahu Abdullahi, 28; and Saleiman Ahmed, 25, following their arrest at Wukari, Taraba state by operatives on Thursday 30th October when they were conveying the drugs from Onitsha, Anambra state to Yola, Adamawa state.
“Meanwhile, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week. These include: WADA sensitization lecture to students and staff of Aroje/Abaa Community High School, Ogbomoso, Oyo state;
“Amazing Flower Secondary School, Maya, Ikorodu, Lagos; Government Day Secondary School, Ilelah, Sokoto; Government Day Secondary School, Darina, Gwiwa LGA, Jigawa Royal Star Academy, Hayin Gwarmai, Bebeji LGA, Kano state, among others.
“While commending the officers and men of MMIA, Lagos, Kaduna, Edo, Kwara, Ogun, Taraba, Ondo, Seme, and Bauchi Commands as well as their compatriots across the country for their resilience, professionalism and balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the country, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) vowed that the Agency will continue to target and dismantle every identified drug syndicate in any part of Nigeria while denying them of the benefits of the proceeds of their criminal trade by ensuring that they forfeit all their traceable assets to the Federal Government.”
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