NDLEA Uncovers Clandestine ‘Colos’ Drug Lab in Lagos, Seizes ‘Loud’ Concealed in Bathtubs in Major Crackdown

In a significant blow to Nigeria’s illicit drug trade, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dismantled a sophisticated clandestine laboratory producing Colorado, a potent synthetic strain of cannabis, hidden within a residential building in Lagos. The operation, which represents a troubling evolution in domestic drug manufacturing, led to the arrest of the facility’s 30-year-old owner, Stephen Kelechi Imoh, and the seizure of substantial quantities of freshly produced narcotics and precursor chemicals.

The Ajao Estate Operation: From Residence to Narcotics Factory

The discovery came after months of meticulous intelligence gathering, triggered when NDLEA officers intercepted multiple consignments of freshly produced Colorado in March and May 2025. This pattern suggested something alarming: a local production operation rather than imported contraband. The investigation culminated on Thursday, October 30, when agents raided the converted apartment in Ajao Estate, Isolo, Lagos.

What they found was anything but an ordinary residence. The building had been systematically transformed into a fully operational drug production facility, specializing in the manufacture of “Colos”—street slang for Colorado—a highly potent strain of cannabis enhanced with psychoactive substances and various chemicals to intensify its effects.

The seizure from this covert operation was substantial: 16.2 kilograms of freshly cooked Colorado, alongside critical precursor chemicals including 1.7kg of ADB-CHMNACA Cannabinol, 4.5kg of Potassium Carbonate, and 91 litres of Dibromobutane—materials essential to the synthetic drug production process.

Multiple Fronts in Lagos: Mushin Raid and International Smuggling Attempt

Even as the Ajao Estate operation unfolded, NDLEA teams were executing parallel actions across Lagos. On Saturday, November 1, operatives targeted the enclave of 28-year-old drug dealer Afeez Salisu (alias Malu) in Mushin, recovering 16 compressed blocks of “Ghana Loud” (another potent cannabis strain) alongside designer sachets and bottles of Colorado weighing 16.4kg.

Perhaps the most audacious smuggling attempt intercepted involved a 20-year-old music artist, Godspower George Osahenrumwen, known professionally as “Steady Boy.” On Thursday, October 30, he was arrested while attempting to take delivery of a massive consignment of “Loud” cannabis concealed inside three cartons of bathtubs imported from New York, United States.

The shipment had arrived at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja Lagos aboard a DHL flight on Tuesday, October 28. Osahenrumwen was apprehended at Bougain Villa, Primewater Gardens 2, Freedom Way, Lekki, when he appeared as the consignee to collect the 140 bags of Loud with a gross weight of 77.20kg. The operation revealed his involvement with a syndicate that includes his manager, Zion Osazee Omigie (alias Zee Money), who remains at large.

Nationwide Crackdown: A Coordinated Assault on Drug Networks

Northern Operations Yield Significant Hauls

The Lagos operations formed just one part of a comprehensive nationwide crackdown. In Kaduna, NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Abuja-Jos highway on Sunday, October 26, intercepted a consignment of 84,710 capsules of tramadol traveling from Onitsha, Anambra State to Bauchi. A follow-up operation in Bauchi led to the arrest of the recipient, 27-year-old Musa Abdulkarim.

Just two days later, on Tuesday, October 28, agents at the tollgate along the Abuja-Kaduna highway arrested 47-year-old Hamza Musa, who was conveying 32,946 bottles of Akuskura, a New Psychoactive Substance (NPS) from Lagos. In a separate Kaduna operation, 30-year-old Saidu Nafiu was apprehended with 131.5kg of skunk at Kamfanin Zangon Aya, Igabi LGA.

Southwest and Central Regions See Major Busts

The anti-narcotics net spread wide across multiple states. In Ogun State, three suspects—Seun Olaniyi (24), Rauf Asogba (28), and Ayinla Adeniyi (50)—were arrested on Saturday, November 1, after NDLEA officers tracked their movement from Benin Republic and intercepted their bus along Abiola Way, Abeokuta. The operation yielded a staggering 1,779kg of skunk.

Kwara State witnessed a significant interception when operatives recovered 532,600 pills of tramadol and exol-5 from Halilu Amiru, Rabiu Maikudi, and Ibrahim Mati in a truck marked KTG-791 ZZ at Oko-olowo, Ilorin.

Edo State operations saw NDLEA officers on patrol along Okhokho-Isi community in Uhunmwode LGA intercept two Toyota Sienna buses on Wednesday, October 29, conveying a total of 1,455kg of skunk following credible intelligence.

Ondo State proved particularly productive for anti-narcotics efforts. On Tuesday, October 28, operatives recovered a total of 2,829kg of skunk linked to 32-year-old female suspect Mrs. Ige Olarewaju from two locations at Ayede, Ogbese. In a separate operation, suspect Samuel Adebayo was apprehended with 737kg of the same psychoactive substance at Adegbola junction, Akure.

Eastern and Border Operations

At Ibereko, Badagry, Lagos, on Friday, October 31, NDLEA officers arrested 50-year-old Ige Oluwale and seized 76.5 litres of “skuchies”—a dangerous mixture of black currant, skunk, and opioids.

In Taraba State, the duo of Musbahu Abdullahi (28) and Saleiman Ahmed (25) were arrested on Thursday, October 30, while transporting 30,370 pills of tramadol and 177 grams of methamphetamine from Onitsha, Anambra State to Yola, Adamawa State.

Bauchi State operations led to the arrest of Jamilu Mustapha (alias Last Card), 46, with 596.4kg of skunk at Nasaru town, Ningi LGA, on Wednesday, October 29.

Prevention Through Education: WADA Sensitization Campaigns

Alongside these enforcement actions, NDLEA commands across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities, targeting schools, worship centers, workplaces, and communities. These preventive education sessions reached numerous institutions including Aroje/Abaa Community High School in Ogbomoso, Oyo State; Amazing Flower Secondary School in Maya, Ikorodu, Lagos; and several government schools in Sokoto, Jigawa, and Kano States.

Agency Leadership Vows Sustained Pressure

NDLEA Chairman/CEO, retired Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa, commended the officers and men of various commands for their “resilience, professionalism and balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the country.”

In a strong statement of intent, Marwa 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.”

The successful operations highlight both the evolving challenges in Nigeria’s drug control efforts—particularly the shift toward domestic production of synthetic substances—and the NDLEA’s determined response through intelligence-led operations and coordinated nationwide action.

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