The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a wanted drug lord, Yussuf Abayomi Azeez, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, while attempting to board a flight to Saudi Arabia for Umrah pilgrimage. The 40-year-old suspect, who had previously escaped trial in the United Kingdom over drug-related offences, was apprehended following months of intensive intelligence gathering and surveillance.

According to the NDLEA, Azeez had established a large-scale clandestine laboratory in Lekki, Lagos, dedicated to the production of Colorado, a potent synthetic cannabis. Operatives from the agency’s Special Operations Unit arrested him around 6:30 a.m. on Thursday, November 6, 2025, and led a follow-up raid on his residence at 17 Vincent Eku Street, Ogombo, Lekki, where another suspect, Abideen Kekere-Ekun (43), was also apprehended.

The agency’s Directorate of Forensic and Chemical Monitoring (DFCM) dismantled the facility and seized laboratory equipment, precursor chemicals, and finished products weighing 148.3 kilograms.

In a related joint operation with the Nigeria Customs Service at Sifax Bonded Terminal, Okota, NDLEA operatives intercepted 105.5kg of “Molly” (a designer drug) and 500g of methamphetamine during the inspection of a shipment on Friday, November 7.

Nationwide operations during the same week also yielded major seizures:

In Niger State, operatives intercepted Ibrahim Mohammed (35) with 87,000 tramadol pills and 72kg of cannabis concealed in a Volvo truck along Kainji–Wawa Road.

In Taraba, Felix Tanko Chinedu (28) was arrested with 15,020 tramadol capsules, while Aliyu Samaila (25) was caught transporting 34,520 tramadol capsules from Onitsha to Cameroon.

In Kogi State, officers recovered 7.6kg of Loud (a strong cannabis variant) and later arrested Chukwunonso Anieze (40) in Abuja following a coordinated follow-up operation. Another 175,000 pills of opioids were also recovered.

Three traffickers — Olayide Oyidiran (39), Abdulsalam Abdulsalam (28), and Opeyemi Tijjani (39) — were intercepted at the Abuja-Kaduna tollgate with 769kg of cannabis.

In Edo State, a 73-year-old man, James Ugbedo, was arrested at a cannabis plantation in Igbeshi forest, Etsako East LGA, where over 1,459kg of cannabis was destroyed. Similarly, a 70-year-old woman, Mrs. Comfort Odudu, was arrested in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, with 5kg of cannabis.

Meanwhile, NDLEA Commands across the federation continued War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization campaigns in schools, worship centres, transport unions, and workplaces in states including Ebonyi, Niger, Oyo, Sokoto, Adamawa, and Kebbi.

Commending the operatives, NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), hailed the successful operations as part of the agency’s intensified crackdown on illicit drug networks.

“The dismantling of yet another clandestine lab in Lekki, barely a week after a similar operation in Ajao Estate, proves our resolve to dismantle drug cartels preying on society,” Marwa stated. “We will continue to pursue these merchants of death relentlessly, with the support of our national and international partners.”