Lagos State police uncovered a suspected high-tech indoor cannabis farm inside a residential property in Apapa, Lagos, and arrested two residents.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35] The arrested men were identified as Thomas Razvickas, a 49-year-old Polish national, and James Chisome, a 36-year-old Nigerian.[1][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][21][22][23][24][27][28][29][30][31][32][34][35] Detectives searched the residential premises at approximately 8:15 a.m. on Monday, November 2, following credible intelligence.[1][5][7][36][8][11][14][15][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][30][32][33] The Lagos State Police Command announced the discovery on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, saying it resulted from an intelligence-led operation the previous morning.[1][9][31]

Police said the facility was equipped for the cultivation, harvesting and processing of substances suspected to be cannabis.[1][3][4][5][6][7][36][8][9][10][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][30][31][32][33][34] Police had not disclosed the quantity of suspected cannabis recovered, the estimated value of the facility or how long it had operated.[1][13] The suspects are in police custody, have made confessional statements and are providing information to aid the investigation.[37][3][4][5][6][7][36][8][9][12][14][15][17][18][19][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34] The Command had not announced formal charges against the suspects.[1]

Commissioner of Police Tijani Fatai visited the scene to inspect the indoor farm, assess the operation and receive a briefing on the investigation.[37][3][4][5][6][9][10][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][34] Investigators were expected to examine the facility’s establishment and operation, including any possible links to wider drug production or distribution networks.[1]

The plants, which would take three months to mature, were allegedly cultivated for eventual sale in the illicit drug market.[38][39] The young plants were grown in cups and, after germinating, were to be harvested and sold into society.[38][39][27] The property manager reportedly told reporters that he only intended to help someone and had no plan to profit from the operation.[2][39] Lagos State Commissioner of Police Tijani Fatai described the discovery as another breakthrough in the Command’s fight against drug abuse and trafficking.[38] The raid recovered cannabis plants growing in black bags, bags of harvested cannabis and cultivation equipment including grow lights.[2]

The suspects are expected to be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and prosecution.[11]

Command spokesperson Abimbola Adebisi said in a statement posted on X that the two men lived in the building and were being held by the police.[13]

Police said efforts were continuing to determine the scale of the operation, the source of materials used at the facility and whether other persons were involved.[16] Commissioner Fatai urged residents to keep providing useful information and assured the public the command would remain proactive against criminal activities.[16][31]

The property manager acknowledged knowing the activity was not approved by the government and said the operation came to light when an attempt was made to sell the cannabis.[39]

Tijani Fatai commended the operatives for vigilance and intelligence-led policing and restated the Command’s commitment to combating drug-related offences and dismantling criminal networks.[23][25][28][29][34]

Chisome said he acted to help a stranded foreigner whose sponsoring company had abandoned him in Nigeria.[27] Chisome said he offered help with any need, and the foreigner then proposed the cannabis-cultivation idea.[27]