Nigerian authorities have arrested a wanted drug trafficker wanted in the United Kingdom, dismantling a large clandestine laboratory in Lagos responsible for producing synthetic cannabis and other illegal substances.
Yussuf Abayomi Azeez, who had previously faced drug charges in the UK before fleeing to Nigeria, was apprehended at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos on Thursday, as he attempted to board a flight to Saudi Arabia for the Umrah pilgrimage.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), acting on months of intelligence gathering, traced Azeez to a secret laboratory in the Lekki area of Lagos, where 148.3 kilograms of synthetic cannabis, locally known as “Colorado”, and precursor chemicals were seized.
NDLEA officers also intercepted multiple shipments of narcotics across the country in recent days, including methamphetamine, designer drugs, tramadol pills, and cannabis weighing hundreds of kilograms.
In a striking turn, two elderly individuals were arrested for involvement in large-scale cannabis operations.
NDLEA emphasized that these operations are part of its nationwide anti-drug initiative, combining law enforcement with public education campaigns to curb drug abuse and trafficking.
