NDLEA Nabs UK Fugitive Running Illegal Drug Lab in Lekki

A 40-year-old wanted drug kingpin, Yussuf Abayomi Azeez, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, while attempting to travel to Saudi Arabia for Umrah. The suspect, who had earlier fled the United Kingdom after jumping bail on drug charges, was caught following months of intelligence gathering and covert surveillance.

NDLEA officials said Azeez had established a large-scale illicit drug laboratory in Lekki, Lagos, where synthetic cannabis known as Colorado and other banned substances were being produced. Acting on credible intelligence, the agency’s special operations unit apprehended him around 6:30 a.m. on Thursday, November 6, 2025, and immediately led him to his operational base at 17 Vincent Eku Street, Ogombo, Lekki. Another suspect, Abideen Kekere-Ekun (43), was arrested alongside him.

Inside the facility, NDLEA’s Directorate of Forensic and Chemical Monitoring successfully dismantled the clandestine laboratory and recovered 148.3 kilograms of Colorado, various precursor chemicals, and advanced production equipment.

Nationwide Raids Yield More Arrests and Seizures

In coordinated operations across multiple states, NDLEA officers recorded a string of significant busts. At the Sifax Bonded Terminal in Okota, Lagos, a joint operation with the Nigeria Customs Service and other agencies led to the discovery of 105.5 kilograms of Molly (a designer drug) and 500 grams of methamphetamine concealed in a shipment.

In Niger State, operatives intercepted Ibrahim Mohammed (35) with a Volvo truck carrying 87,000 pills of tramadol and 72 kilograms of cannabis along the Kainji-Wawa road. Similarly, in Taraba State, Felix Tanko Chinedu (28) was arrested with 15,020 capsules of tramadol at Kasuwabera ATC in Ardo Kola Local Government Area.

Another major seizure in Kogi State involved 7.6 kilograms of “Loud”, a potent cannabis strain, intercepted on the Okene/Lokoja highway. A follow-up operation in Abuja led to the arrest of Chukwunonso Anieze (40) and the recovery of 175,000 opioid pills. Three more suspects were later arrested at the Abuja-Kaduna tollgate with 769 kilograms of skunk, heading from Lagos to Kano.

Elderly Suspects Arrested in Edo and Bayelsa as NDLEA Expands WADA Campaign

The NDLEA’s clampdown also extended to rural drug operations, where elderly individuals were not spared. In Edo State, 73-year-old James Ugbedo was arrested at a cannabis plantation in Igbeshi forest, Etsako East Local Government Area. Officers destroyed 1,459.75 kilograms of cannabis on-site and recovered 5.6 kilograms for evidence. Similarly, 70-year-old Mrs. Comfort Odudu was arrested in Onopa, Yenagoa (Bayelsa State), with 5 kilograms of cannabis in her possession.

Meanwhile, the NDLEA’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) continued nationwide, with sensitization campaigns held in schools, religious centres, and workplaces across Ebonyi, Niger, Oyo, Sokoto, Adamawa, and Kebbi States. The agency emphasized education and awareness as a critical complement to its enforcement strategy.

NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), commended the operatives for their diligence and professionalism. He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to a balanced approach combining enforcement and education in tackling Nigeria’s drug menace.

“The dismantling of another clandestine laboratory for synthetic drug production in Lekki, following a similar success in Ajao Estate, Lagos, is a clear message to drug cartels,” Marwa stated. “NDLEA, with the support of local and international partners, will continue to hunt and bring to justice all who profit from destroying lives.”