The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has made significant breakthroughs in its efforts to curb drug trafficking and abuse in Nigeria. In a major operation, the agency uncovered a clandestine laboratory used for the production of Colorado, a potent synthetic strain of cannabis, in a residential building at Ajao Estate, Isolo, Lagos.
According to Femi Babafemi, NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, the operation was carried out on October 30 and led to the arrest of 30-year-old Stephen Kelechi Imoh, alleged owner of the lab. Recovered from the building were 16.2 kilograms of freshly cooked Colos, 1.7kg of ADB-CHMNACA Cannabinol, 4.5kg of Potassium Carbonate, and 91 litres of Dibromobutane.
In a separate operation in Mushin, Lagos, NDLEA officers arrested 28-year-old Afeez Salisu, also known as Malu, and seized 16.4kg of Ghana Loud and Colorado variants of cannabis from his enclave on November 1.
Another major breakthrough came at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) where a 20-year-old music artist, Godspower George Osahenrumwen (stage name Steady Boy), was arrested while attempting to take delivery of a consignment of Loud concealed in three imported bathtubs from the United States. The drugs, weighing 77.2kg, were traced to a syndicate allegedly led by his manager, Zion Osazee Omigie (a.k.a Zee Money), who is currently at large.
The NDLEA also made several other major seizures across the country, including 84,710 tramadol capsules in Kaduna State, 1,779kg of skunk in Ogun State, and 1,455kg of skunk in Edo State.
Commending the officers for their “resilience and professionalism,” NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd.) reaffirmed the agency’s resolve to dismantle all drug cartels operating within Nigeria and ensure the forfeiture of their assets to the Federal Government. “We will continue to deny drug syndicates the benefits of their criminal enterprise,” Marwa said.
