NDLEA Arrests Saudi-Bound Drug Lord, Seizes Large Quantities of Narcotics Across Nigeria

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a notorious drug kingpin, Yussuf Abayomi Azeez, at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, as he prepared to travel to Saudi Arabia for Umrah.

Azeez, 40, previously faced drug charges in the United Kingdom before fleeing to Nigeria, where he established a secret laboratory in Lekki producing Colorado—a potent synthetic cannabis—and other illicit substances. NDLEA’s Director of Media & Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, confirmed the arrest.

The operation, carried out on Thursday, 6 November 2025 at 6:30 a.m., saw Azeez intercepted alongside 43-year-old Abideen Kekere-Ekun. NDLEA operatives immediately raided his Lekki lab, seizing 148.3 kilograms of Colorado and precursor chemicals, and dismantled all laboratory equipment.

In a separate operation at Sifax bonded terminal, Okota, Lagos, NDLEA and Customs seized 105.5 kilograms of Molly, a designer drug, and 500 grams of methamphetamine on 7 November.

Further arrests across Nigeria included:

Niger State: Ibrahim Mohammed, 35, caught along Kainji-Wawa Road with 87,000 tramadol pills and 72 kilograms of skunk cannabis.

Taraba State: Aliyu Samaila, 25, transporting 34,520 tramadol capsules to Cameroon; Felix Tanko Chinedu, 28, with 15,020 tramadol capsules.

Kogi State: 7.6 kilograms of Loud cannabis seized along Okene/Lokoja highway; follow-up in Abuja led to arrest of Chukwunonso Anieze, 40, with 175,000 opioid pills.

Abuja/Kaduna Tollgate: Three suspects—Olayide Oyidiran, 39; Abdulsalam Abdulsalam, 28; and Opeyemi Tijjani, 39—arrested with 769 kilograms of skunk cannabis.

Edo State: James Ugbedo, 73, caught in Igbeshi Forest with 5.6 kilograms of skunk cannabis; 1,459.75 kilograms destroyed.

Bayelsa State: Comfort Odudu, 70, arrested with five kilograms of skunk cannabis.


NDLEA continues its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiatives, conducting sensitisation programs in schools, workplaces, and communities nationwide, including locations in Abakaliki, Niger, Oyo, Sokoto, Adamawa, and Kebbi States.

NDLEA Chairman, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), praised the officers for the successful operations, highlighting the dismantling of the Lekki lab as a major blow to drug trafficking networks. He warned that the agency, in collaboration with local and international partners, would relentlessly pursue drug traffickers.

“The arrest of this kingpin and the seizure of dangerous synthetic drugs demonstrate that our fight against drug trafficking continues. Those still at large should know that NDLEA will bring them to justice,” Marwa said.

These arrests form part of NDLEA’s nationwide campaign to curb the production and distribution of illegal drugs while raising public awareness of substance abuse dangers.