NDLEA arrests notorious drug kingpin in Lagos, dismantles synthetic cannabis lab

Abdullateef Fowewe

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested “Yussuf Abayomi Azeez” , a 40-year-old wanted drug lord, at Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.

The arrest was made as he attempted to travel to Saudi Arabia for Umrah, a holy pilgrimage, after months of intelligence and surveillance on his drug-related activities.

Femi Babafemi, NDLEA Director of Media & Advocacy, in a statement on Sunday stated, “A wanted drug lord 40-year-old Yussuf Abayomi Azeez has been arrested by operatives of a special operations unit of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja Lagos while on his way to Saudi Arabia for Umrah, a holy pilgrimage, after months of intelligence and surveillance on him and his criminal drug activities.”

Previously charged for drug offences in the United Kingdom, Yussuf had jumped bail and fled to Nigeria.

After settling in Lagos, he established a large clandestine laboratory in Lekki to produce dangerous synthetic cannabis known as Colorado and other illicit substances.

On the morning of Thursday, November 6, 2025, at approximately 6:30am, NDLEA operatives apprehended Yussuf at the airport.

He was found alongside another suspect, 43-year-old Abideen Kekere-Ekun, at his secret lab located at 17 Vincent Eku Street, Ogombo, Lekki. The agency’s Directorate of Forensic and Chemical Monitoring dismantled the facility, seizing 148.3 kilograms of Colorado and chemicals.

Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), NDLEA Chairman/CEO, praised the operations across multiple commands and urged continued efforts, saying, “The dismantling of yet another clandestine laboratory for the production of Colorado and other dangerous synthetic substances and the arrest of the kingpin behind it in Lekki, coming barely a week after similar actions were taken against another cartel in Ajao estate Lagos shows that these are no doubt the first in the series of what will be many strikes against merchants of death who prey on the weak in our communities.”

He added, “Let it be known to those still hiding in the dark that the NDLEA supported by our local and international law enforcement partners will continue to hunt them and bring them to justice.”