NDLEA arrests wanted ‘drug lord’ at Lagos Airport, dismantles synthetic-drug laboratory
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested a wanted drug baron, Yussuf Azeez, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
The 40-year-old suspect was intercepted on Thursday, November 6, 2025, while attempting to board a flight to Saudi Arabia for Umrah.
A statement released on Sunday by the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said Azeez had previously been arrested and charged with drug offences in the United Kingdom but jumped bail and fled to Nigeria.
According to Babafemi, Azeez allegedly established a clandestine laboratory in the Lekki area of Lagos for the production of Colorado, a dangerous synthetic strain of cannabis.
“The drug kingpin had been arrested and charged for drug offences in the United Kingdom, but jumped bail and escaped to Nigeria.
“Soon after settling in Lagos, he set up a massive clandestine laboratory in the Lekki area for the production of Colorado and other illicit substances,” Babafemi said.
He added that at about 6:30 am on Thursday, November 6, NDLEA operatives apprehended Azeez at the Lagos airport as he attempted to board his flight.
He was immediately taken to his laboratory at 17 Vincent Eku Street, Ogombo, Lekki, which had been under surveillance for some time.
At the point of his arrest, Azeez was found in the company of Abideen Kekere-Ekun, 43.
Inside the building, operatives from the Directorate of Forensic and Chemical Monitoring dismantled laboratory equipment, precursor chemicals, and already-produced illicit substances, including 148.3 kilograms of Colorado.
