By Molade Adegbiyi
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has discovered and dismantled a clandestine laboratory for the production of hashish oil in Lagos. The laboratory is located at 7 Imam Augusto Close, Victoria Island.
The lab is managed by one Oladapo Ifedayo, a graduate of University of Southern Denmark with a degree in Electronic Engineering. Ifedayo is an half-caste, whose late Nigerian father was a Professor. He runs the lab with his Danish mother, Dr Mrs Jyetter Marie (Nee Roug)
The NDLEA claimed that Adedayo aged 42, said he was pushed into the hydroponic cannabis growing and Hashish Oil extraction following the collapse of his Inverter, Metering and Solar Installation Company in 2019. He said he noticed that there is so much money to be made in view of the high demand for Hashish oil in the international market as a curative medicine for cancer.
According to a statement by the Principal Staff Officer, Public Affairs of the agency, Jonah Achema, in Abuja on Friday,received by Irohinoodua, the laboratory was the first ever.
Hashish oil is a derivative of cannabis sativa which is used as drugs similar to tramadol. Experts said the laboratory has been supplying the dangerous product to many youths in Lagos though the owner of the laboratory claimed the produce is for the treatment of cancer.
The Agency also arrested the suspected owner of the laboratory, Oladapo Ifedayo Oluseyi Adedayo.
Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (Rtd.), in the statement said the drug trade is “assuming a hitherto unthinkable dimension for somebody to turn his premises into a cannabis farm and also establish in the same premises a laboratory to process the proceeds into bye products such as Hashish.”
He urged all stakeholders to deploy all means “to contain this daredevilry because Nigeria cannot afford a dangerous brew of hashish oil and that of methamphetamine which the Agency has been working assiduously to put an end to its local production.”
It read, “A clandestine laboratory for the production of Hashish Oil, a derivative from Cannabis sativa has been dismantled by the Serious Enforcement Team of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA. The laboratory was located in an apartment on No. 7, Imam Augusto Close, Victoria Island-Lagos.
“In the course of the operation code-named Hash-Caste, the Agency arrested one Oladapo Ifedayo Oluseyi Adedayo, “M”, the suspected owner of the laboratory which engages in indoor growing of cannabis sativa and processing same into Hashish oil through clandestine laboratory extraction.
“Adedayo’s expansive premises is well fortified with protective dogs and himself well armed, ostensibly to put up resistance from the suspected onslaught of law enforcement agencies. In the course of the operation, several drug exhibits were recovered including 911 grams of Cannabis seeds, 21 Kilograms of Cannabis infused Ethanol, 83 grams of Hashish Oil 123mg THC-70 CBD, 1.127 Kilograms of Cannabis Cream, 80 grams of fresh Cannabis plant and 25 grams of dried Cannabis plant.
“Other items found in the active laboratory are: 500 grams of Potassium Hydroxide Pellets, Propyl Alcohol, 500 grams of Sodium Hydroxide Pellets, Distilled water, Water Aspirator Vacuum Pump, Round bottom Flasks, Citric Acid, PH Meter, Retort Stands, Distillation Flasks, Printer, Spectronet wireless wifi, Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Pipes, Wooden base for Hydroponic System of Cannabis growing, LED Flood lighting for Photosynthesis purpose for the Cannabis indoor planting and one product of Berreta 92 Pistol (a short gun) with thirteen (13) rounds of live ammunition.