The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intensified its war against drug trafficking and production in Nigeria with the discovery of a clandestine laboratory producing synthetic cannabis, popularly known as Colos, in a residential building at Ajao Estate, Isolo, Lagos.

The breakthrough followed months of undercover surveillance and intelligence gathering by NDLEA operatives tracking the local production of synthetic drugs that were once largely imported into the country.

During the operation, the agency arrested 30-year-old Stephen Kelechi Imoh, identified as the owner of the illegal laboratory. Items recovered from the scene included 16.2 kilogrammes of freshly produced Colos, 1.7 kilogrammes of ADB-CHMNACA Cannabinol, 4.5 kilogrammes of potassium carbonate, and 91 litres of dibromobutane—all key ingredients for synthetic cannabis production.

In a related raid in Mushin, Lagos, NDLEA officers stormed the hideout of a suspected drug dealer, 28-year-old Afeez Salisu, and recovered 16 compressed blocks of Ghana Loud and several bottles of Colorado, another form of potent cannabis.

The agency also intercepted a 20-year-old upcoming music artist, Godspower George Osahenrumwen, popularly known as Steady Boy, after he attempted to collect a shipment of cannabis cleverly concealed in three cartons of bathtubs imported from New York.

The 77.2-kilogramme consignment, which arrived aboard a DHL flight at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, was reportedly linked to a drug syndicate headed by his manager, Zion Osazee Omigie, who is currently on the run.

Speaking on the operations, NDLEA Chairman, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the officers for their “professional coordination and unrelenting commitment” to the agency’s mandate.

 “Our resolve remains firm, to dismantle every identified drug syndicate in Nigeria and ensure offenders face the full weight of the law,” Marwa stated.

“Drug trafficking is not only a crime against the state but a threat to the future of our youth and our national security.”

The recent Lagos operations were part of a broader nationwide crackdown, with coordinated raids carried out across Kaduna, Bauchi, Kwara, Edo, Ondo, Ogun, and Taraba States.

In Kaduna, operatives intercepted over 84,000 capsules of tramadol and arrested a suspect connected to the haul.

In Ogun State, three suspects were caught in Abeokuta with 1,779 kilogrammes of skunk, traced from the Benin Republic, while in Edo, NDLEA officers intercepted two vehicles carrying 1,455 kilogrammes of the same substance.

In Ondo State, nearly three tonnes of skunk were recovered from Ogbese and Akure, and in Badagry, Lagos, officers seized 76.5 litres of “skuchies”—a dangerous cocktail of drugs mixed with blackcurrant.

Brig. Gen. Marwa also reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative, which continues to expand across schools, religious centres, and community spaces nationwide.

 “Education and awareness are critical weapons in this fight. We must collectively protect our youths from the lure of substance abuse,” he said.

The NDLEA’s latest success, according to community stakeholders in Mushin and Isolo, is a strong warning to drug dealers operating within residential areas.

Mrs. Kudirat Adebayo, a community leader in Ajao Estate, praised the agency’s efforts:

 “We have long suspected strange activities in that building. NDLEA’s intervention has brought relief to our community.”

The agency has urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities through its official channels, assuring that the war against drug trafficking and abuse is far from over, but victory is certain.