Lagos Police Bust High-Tech Cannabis Factory in Apapa, Arrest Polish National, Nigerian Accomplice

…CP Tijani Fatai Storms Secret Facility as Intelligence-Led Operation Exposes Sophisticated Drug Cultivation Network

Segun Atanda/

What appeared to be an ordinary residential property in Apapa, Lagos, was allegedly concealing a sophisticated indoor cannabis cultivation facility until police intelligence exposed the operation and led to the arrest of a Polish national and his Nigerian accomplice.

The Lagos State Police Command announced on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, that its operatives had uncovered the suspected high-tech cannabis farm during an intelligence-led operation conducted the previous morning.

The suspects were identified as Thomas Razvickas, a 49-year-old Polish national, and James Chisome, a 36-year-old Nigerian, both of whom were residing at the property where the facility was discovered.

According to the Command, the operation was carried out at approximately 8:15 a.m. on Monday, November 2, following credible intelligence that prompted detectives to search the residential premises.

What they reportedly encountered was no ordinary backyard cannabis plantation.
Instead, police discovered an elaborate indoor farming installation equipped for the cultivation, harvesting and processing of substances suspected to be cannabis.

The discovery suggests an operation that went beyond conventional outdoor cultivation, raising questions about the scale of the suspected enterprise, its financing, possible distribution channels and whether other individuals were involved.

Although police have yet to disclose the quantity of suspected cannabis recovered, the estimated value of the facility or the duration of its operation, the sophisticated nature of the installation has made it a significant focus of the Command’s ongoing investigation.

Foreign National, Nigerian Suspect in Custody
Police confirmed that Razvickas and Chisome were arrested at the premises and taken into custody for questioning.

According to the Command, both suspects have made confessional statements and are providing information considered useful to investigators.
However, the precise roles allegedly played by the two men, the ownership of the property and the intended market for the suspected cannabis products have not been publicly established.

Investigators are expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the establishment and operation of the facility, including any possible links to wider drug production or distribution networks.

The suspects remain in police custody as investigations continue.

CP Tijani Fatai Personally Inspects Facility
In a demonstration of the importance attached to the discovery, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Tijani Olaiwola Fatai, personally visited the premises to inspect the facility and assess the extent of the suspected illegal operation.

During the visit, the police chief received a briefing from officers handling the investigation and examined the sophisticated indoor cultivation setup.

Fatai commended the operatives responsible for the breakthrough, describing their performance as a reflection of the Command’s commitment to proactive and intelligence-led policing.

He reaffirmed his determination to intensify operations against drug-related offences and other forms of organised criminal activity across Lagos.

The Commissioner also stressed that the state would not be allowed to become a sanctuary for individuals or networks engaged in criminal enterprises.

His visit underscored the Command’s resolve to pursue investigations beyond the immediate arrests and establish the full circumstances surrounding the suspected operation.

A Hidden Threat Behind Residential Walls
The Apapa discovery draws attention to the challenges posed by suspected criminal enterprises operating within otherwise legitimate residential environments.

Unlike conventional cannabis farms, which typically require substantial outdoor cultivation space, indoor growing facilities can operate behind closed doors, making detection more dependent on intelligence gathering, surveillance and information from members of the public.

Such facilities may be designed to maintain controlled growing conditions and conceal cultivation activities from casual observation.

In the Apapa case, the police have not released a detailed inventory of the equipment discovered or explained how the suspected cultivation system was maintained.

Nevertheless, the discovery of a purpose-built indoor facility inside a residential property illustrates the increasingly complex environments in which law enforcement agencies may encounter suspected drug production.

It also raises broader security questions about the use of residential buildings for potentially unlawful commercial activities and the importance of cooperation between residents and security agencies.

Intelligence-Led Policing Delivers Breakthrough
For the Lagos State Police Command, the operation represents another test of its strategy of combining intelligence gathering, operational responsiveness and public cooperation to confront criminal activities.

The Command attributed the discovery to credible intelligence, reinforcing the importance of timely information in identifying suspected criminal operations that might otherwise remain undetected.

Fatai acknowledged the contribution of members of the public to policing efforts and urged residents to continue providing credible information about suspicious activities in their communities.

He assured Lagos residents that the Command would remain vigilant, proactive and responsive in addressing emerging security threats.

The Commissioner further reiterated his commitment to dismantling criminal networks and strengthening public safety across the state.

Investigation Continues
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi, who disclosed details of the operation in a statement issued on Tuesday, said investigations were ongoing.

The Command has not announced formal charges against the suspects or disclosed whether additional arrests are anticipated.

The identities of any other persons potentially connected to the facility have also not been made public.

For now, the discovery has brought an alleged clandestine cannabis cultivation operation into the spotlight, with investigators facing the task of establishing its full scale, ownership and possible connections.

As the investigation unfolds, the central question is whether the Apapa facility was an isolated illegal enterprise or one component of a wider network operating behind the seemingly ordinary walls of residential properties in Lagos.

The answer could determine whether the police breakthrough ends with two arrests or opens the door to a more extensive investigation into suspected organised drug production in Nigeria’s commercial capital.

Lagos Police Bust High-Tech Cannabis Factory in Apapa, Arrest Polish National, Nigerian Accomplice