From UK fugitive to Nigerian kingpin: NDLEA foils drug lord’s escape to Saudi Arabia

A high-stakes manhunt that spanned continents ended in Lagos this week with the arrest of Yussuf Abayomi Azeez, a 40-year-old drug kingpin who had fled the United Kingdom after jumping bail on drug-related charges.

Intelligence gathered over months by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) tracked Azeez as he established a massive clandestine laboratory in Lekki, Lagos, producing Colorado, a dangerous synthetic cannabis, and other illicit substances.

The operation reached its climax at Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja on Thursday, 6th November, when Azeez attempted to board a flight to Saudi Arabia for Umrah.

NDLEA operatives swooped in, arresting Azeez along with 43-year-old accomplice Abideen Kekere-Ekun.

A raid on his Lekki lab uncovered 148.3 kilograms of Colorado and precursor chemicals, effectively dismantling a sophisticated criminal network.

Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), NDLEA Chairman, described the arrest as “a culmination of painstaking intelligence work and international cooperation.”

He warned that drug traffickers cannot hide, whether locally or abroad.

“This case is a stark reminder that no matter where they run, the long arm of justice can reach them,” Marwa said.

The arrest also underscores the evolving nature of organized drug crime in Nigeria, where fugitives from foreign jurisdictions exploit local gaps to expand their operations.

NDLEA’s actions not only halted Azeez’s international flight but also dismantled a production hub capable of supplying deadly synthetic drugs both locally and abroad.