NDLEA colorado laboratory Lagos raid leads to arrest of lab owner and massive drug seizures across Nigeria in major anti-narcotics operation
NDLEA colorado laboratory Lagos operation has led to the discovery of a secret drug lab used to produce the synthetic strain of cannabis known as “Colorado” inside a residential building at Ajao Estate, Isolo.
Also read: NDLEA cracks down on illegal drug parties in Lagos
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) confirmed the breakthrough in a statement issued on Sunday by its spokesperson, Femi Babafemi.
He revealed that the lab’s owner, Stephen Kelechi Imoh, 30, was arrested following months of surveillance and intelligence gathering on the local production of the psychoactive substance.
According to Babafemi, the raid followed the interception of multiple Colorado consignments in March and May 2025, which raised suspicions that the drug was being produced locally rather than imported.
Recovered from the laboratory were 16.2kg of freshly cooked Colorado, 1.7kg of ADB-CHMNACA Cannabinol, 4.5kg of Potassium Carbonate, and 91 litres of Dibromobutane, all used in the manufacture of synthetic cannabis.
The NDLEA spokesperson said the operation marked a significant step in dismantling domestic drug production networks.
“The discovery confirms that some of the dangerous psychoactive substances, previously imported into the country, are now being locally produced,” he stated.
In a related operation, NDLEA officers raided the Mushin residence of 28-year-old drug dealer, Afeez Salisu (alias Malu), seizing 16 compressed blocks of Ghana Loud and several designer bottles and sachets of Colorado weighing 16.4kg.
Meanwhile, in another major breakthrough, a 20-year-old music artist, Godspower George Osahenrumwen, popularly known as Steady Boy, was arrested while attempting to collect 77.2kg of Loud cannabis hidden inside three cartons of bathtubs imported from New York.
The consignment, shipped via DHL to the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, had arrived aboard a U.S. flight on October 28.
NDLEA operatives traced the shipment to Bougain Villa, Primewater Gardens 2, Lekki, where Steady Boy was apprehended as the consignee. His manager, identified as Zion Osazee Omigie (a.k.a. Zee Money), is currently on the run.
Across other states, NDLEA operations yielded further significant seizures. In Kaduna, operatives intercepted 84,710 capsules of tramadol, arrested Musa Abdulkarim, and later nabbed Hamza Musa, 47, with 32,946 bottles of Akuskura, a new psychoactive substance. Another suspect, Saidu Nafiu, 30, was caught with 131.5kg of skunk in Igabi LGA.
Similarly, in Ogun State, three men—Seun Olaniyi (24), Rauf Asogba (28), and Ayinla Adeniyi (50)—were arrested with 1,779kg of skunk tracked from Benin Republic to Abeokuta. In Bauchi, NDLEA arrested Jamilu Mustapha (a.k.a. Last Card) with 596.4kg of skunk, while in Kwara, officers seized 532,600 pills of Tramadol and Exol-5.
Other state operations yielded staggering results:
– Edo: 1,455kg of skunk recovered from two Toyota Sienna buses in Uhunmwode LGA.
– Ondo: 2,829kg of skunk linked to Mrs Ige Olarewaju, and 737kg recovered from Samuel Adebayo.
– Badagry, Lagos: 50-year-old Ige Oluwale arrested with 76.5 litres of skuchies.
– Taraba: Musbahu Abdullahi (28) and Saleiman Ahmed (25) caught with 30,370 pills of tramadol and 177g of methamphetamine en route to Yola.
Also read: NDLEA storms Pretty Mike’s Lagos Lounge, arrests BBN’s Tuoyo, 100 clubbers
The NDLEA Colorado laboratory Lagos bust, alongside these nationwide operations, underscores the agency’s relentless drive against narcotics trafficking and local drug manufacturing.
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
