The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dismantled a clandestine laboratory producing “Colorado” — a synthetic strain of cannabis — inside a residential building in Ajao Estate, Isolo, Lagos. Operatives arrested the suspected lab owner, Stephen Kelechi Imoh, 30, and recovered a cache of freshly processed substances and chemical precursors.
The breakthrough follows months of surveillance after NDLEA officers intercepted locally-produced consignments earlier this year, indicating the dangerous drug — previously imported — was now being produced domestically. Items recovered from the lab included 16.2kg of freshly cooked Colos, 1.7kg of ADB-CHMNACA Cannabinol, 4.5kg Potassium Carbonate, and 91 litres of Dibromobutane.
In a separate Lagos operation, officers raided the Mushin hideout of Afeez “Malu” Salisu, 28, recovering 16.4kg of Ghana Loud and Colorado variants packaged in designer bottles and sachets.
NDLEA also arrested a rising music artist, Godspower George Osahenrumwen (aka Steady Boy), 20, who showed up to collect 140 bags of Loud with a gross weight of 77.2kg concealed in three imported bathtubs at a Lekki property. His manager, Zion Osazee Omigie (aka Zee Money), is currently on the run.
Nationwide Crackdown
Operatives across the country made additional interceptions:
- Kaduna State:
- 84,710 tramadol capsules seized on Abuja–Jos highway; recipient Musa Abdulkarim, 27, arrested in Bauchi.
- 32,946 bottles of Akuskura seized; Hamza Musa, 47, arrested.
- 131.5kg of skunk recovered in Igabi LGA.
- Ogun State:
- Three suspects arrested in Abeokuta with 1,779kg skunk tracked from Benin Republic.
- Bauchi State:
- 596.4kg of skunk seized from Jamilu Mustapha (aka Last Card), 46.
- Kwara State:
- 532,600 pills of tramadol/exol-5 seized in Ilorin; three suspects arrested.
- Edo State:
- Two Toyota Sienna buses intercepted with 1,455kg skunk.
- Ondo State:
- 2,829kg skunk seized from properties linked to Ige Olarewaju, 32;
- 737kg seized from another suspect in Akure.
- Lagos (Badagry):
- 76.5 litres of “skuchies” seized; suspect arrested.
- Taraba State:
- Two suspects arrested in Wukari while transporting tramadol and 177g methamphetamine to Yola.
Focus on Prevention
The NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) outreach, sensitizing students, worshippers, and community groups nationwide in Lagos, Oyo, Sokoto, Jigawa, and Kano among other states.
NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), hailed the operatives for their coordination and vowed to intensify the dismantling of drug syndicates and confiscation of their assets.