News
NDLEA Busts Nigeria’s Biggest Meth Lab, Arrests 3 Mexicans And Drug Baron
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has dismantled what officials described as the largest clandestine methamphetamine production syndicate ever uncovered in Nigeria, arresting 10 suspects, including three Mexican nationals and an alleged drug baron, during coordinated operations across Ogun State and Lagos State.
The multi-billion-naira operation was announced on Wednesday by NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Buba Marwa, during a media briefing at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
According to Marwa, elite operatives of the agency’s Special Operations Unit (SOU) carried out simultaneous raids within 48 hours after months of intelligence gathering targeting a transnational drug syndicate jointly operated by Nigerian traffickers and Mexican methamphetamine experts.
The primary target was a hidden methamphetamine laboratory located inside the Abidagba Forest in Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State. The NDLEA described the facility as the biggest and most sophisticated clandestine meth lab ever discovered in Nigeria.
Marwa said the laboratory was operated by the Anochili Innocent Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO), which allegedly manufactured industrial-scale quantities of methamphetamine intended for both local and international markets.
“At the forest laboratory, our operatives secured the perimeter and caught the syndicate completely off-guard,” Marwa stated.
Seven suspects were arrested inside the forest laboratory, including four Nigerians and three Mexican nationals allegedly brought into the country to supervise the production of methamphetamine.
The arrested Nigerians were identified as Nwankwo Sunday Christian, Igwe Abuchi Remijus, Ifeanyichukwu Chibuike Joshua, and Egwuonwu Uchenna Victor.
The Mexican suspects were identified as Martinez Felix Nemecto, Jesus López Valles, and Torrero Juan Carlos.
In a simultaneous operation, another NDLEA tactical team stormed the Lekki residence of the alleged cartel kingpin, Anochili Innocent, located at Tafawa Balewa Street, Golf Estate, Lakowe, Lagos, where he was arrested.
According to the agency, operatives recovered the passports and mobile phones of the three Mexican suspects from the residence, allegedly linking the drug baron directly to the recruitment and importation of the foreign methamphetamine experts.
Further follow-up operations led to the arrest of another suspect, Kingsley Orike Omonughwa, at a separate property in Mayfair Estate, Lakowe, while another alleged syndicate member, Emeka Nwobum, was linked to a property used as the cartel’s stash house.
The NDLEA said the total number of suspects currently in custody stands at 10, including the alleged kingpin, the Mexican specialists, and six Nigerian collaborators.
Providing details of the seizure, Marwa disclosed that the agency recovered a staggering 2,419.48 kilograms of methamphetamine, precursor chemicals, industrial solvents, and other dangerous substances during the operation.
He estimated the international street value of the recovered drugs and chemicals at $362.9 million, equivalent to over N480 billion.
The operation also led to the recovery of vehicles allegedly used by the syndicate, including a Toyota Tacoma and a Toyota Highlander SUV.
Marwa described the discovery as a major threat to Nigeria’s national security and public health, warning that criminal organizations would no longer find safe operating grounds within the country.
“This network did not just traffic drugs; they were actively manufacturing industrial-scale quantities of highly lethal illicit substances right on our soil,” he said.
The NDLEA boss warned local and international drug cartels that Nigeria had become increasingly hostile to organized narcotics operations.
“No matter how deep into the bush you hide, no matter how secure your gated estate is, the NDLEA will hunt you down, disrupt your networks, and seize your ill-gotten wealth,” Marwa declared.
He also revealed that the Ogun forest laboratory operated under the disguise of a regular farm, urging Nigerians to remain vigilant and report suspicious chemical activities or unusual movements within their communities.
The operation comes barely weeks after the NDLEA announced the dismantling of another major international drug trafficking organization allegedly headed by Simon Amadi in collaboration with law enforcement agencies from the United States, Switzerland, France, and Greece.
Follow BONA NAIJA for more
