NDLEA uncovers secret colorado factory in Lagos, arrests 20-year-old musician with consignment from US

NDLEA uncovers secret colorado factory in Lagos, arrests 20-year-old musician with consignment from US

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have uncovered a secret laboratory used for producing Colorado, a potent synthetic strain of cannabis, inside a residential building at Ajao Estate, Isolo, Lagos State.

This was disclosed in a statement on Sunday by the agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, who said the lab owner, Stephen Kelechi Imoh, 30, was arrested during a raid following months of surveillance and intelligence gathering on the local production of the psychoactive substance.

The statement read, “Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have uncovered a clandestine laboratory where Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis is being produced in a residential building located at Ajao Estate, Isolo Lagos with large quantities of freshly cooked Colos and various precursor chemicals for drug production recovered and the 30-year-old lab owner, Stephen Kelechi Imoh arrested.”

According to Babafemi, the breakthrough came after operatives intercepted multiple consignments of Colorado in March and May 2025, a discovery that suggested the substance, previously imported into Nigeria, was now being produced locally.

“The discovery followed months of intelligence gathering on possible Colos laboratories in Lagos after NDLEA officers intercepted consignments of freshly produced Colos in March and May 2025 in the state, a development that suggested that the dangerous psychoactive substance, which was hitherto imported into the country, was now locally produced.

“Recovered items included 16.2kg of freshly cooked Colos, 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 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.

“NDLEA operatives raided the hideout of 28-year-old drug dealer, Afeez Salisu (alias Malu), in Mushin, Lagos, recovering 16 compressed blocks of Ghana Loud and several designer sachets and bottles of Colorado weighing 16.4kg.

“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,” the statement read.

Similarly, a 20-year-old music artist, Godspower George Osahenrumwen, popularly known as Steady Boy, was arrested while attempting to take delivery of 77.2kg of Loud cannabis concealed in three cartons of bathtubs imported from New York, United States.

The statement added, “A music artist Godspower George Osahenrumwen whose stage name is Steady Boy was 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 20-year-old music artist 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 is currently at large.

“In Kaduna State, NDLEA operatives intercepted 84,710 capsules of tramadol along the Abuja–Jos highway, leading to the arrest of Musa Abdulkarim, 27, in Bauchi.”

Two days later, they nabbed Hamza Musa, 47, with 32,946 bottles of Akuskura, a new psychoactive substance, while Saidu Nafiu, 30, was arrested with 131.5kg of skunk in Igabi LGA.

The statement added, “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. 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.”

Three other suspects, Seun Olaniyi (24), Rauf Asogba (28), and Ayinla Adeniyi (50), were arrested in Abeokuta, Ogun State, after NDLEA officers tracked their movement from Benin Republic, recovering 1,779kg of skunk from their bus.

“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.

“In Bauchi, 46-year-old Jamilu Mustapha (a.k.a Last Card) was arrested with 596.4kg of skunk, while in Kwara State, 532,600 pills of Tramadol and Exol-5 were seized from three suspects , Halilu Amiru, Rabiu Maikudi, and Ibrahim Mati, along the Oko-Olowo axis of Ilorin.

Drugs seized by NDLEA> Credit: NDLEA
Drugs seized by NDLEA> Credit: NDLEA
“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.”

Also in Edo State, operatives intercepted two Toyota Sienna buses conveying 1,455kg of skunk in Uhunmwode LGA, while in Ondo State, NDLEA officers recovered 2,829kg of skunk linked to 32-year-old Mrs. Ige Olarewaju and arrested another suspect, Samuel Adebayo, with 737kg of the same substance in Akure.

“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.

“In Badagry, Lagos, 50-year-old Ige Oluwale was arrested with 76.5 litres of skuchies, a mixture of blackcurrant, cannabis, and opioids, while in Taraba State, two suspects, Musbahu Abdullahi (28) and Saleiman Ahmed (25), were caught with 30,370 pills of Tramadol and 177 grams of methamphetamine on their way from Onitsha, Anambra State, to Yola, Adamawa State.

“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, Bagagry, 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,” it added.

Credit – punch