The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has dismantled a large-scale methamphetamine laboratory hidden inside a forest in Ogun State.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi said the operation led to the seizure of more than 2.4 tonnes of methamphetamine and related chemical materials valued at over $362 million, equivalent to more than N480 billion in the international market.
According to the agency, the clandestine laboratory was located in a remote part of Ijebu East Local Government Area and was allegedly operated by a Nigerian drug cartel in collaboration with Mexican methamphetamine experts.
“Through a clinical, simultaneous operation executed by the elite operatives of our Special Operations Unit (SOU), we have successfully dismantled a sophisticated, transnational methamphetamine production syndicate run jointly by a Nigerian drug cartel and their Mexican counterparts,” the statement read.
“This network did not just traffic drugs; they were actively manufacturing industrial-scale quantities of highly lethal illicit substances right on our soil, threatening the national security and public health of Nigeria.”
Babafemi said NDLEA operatives carried out coordinated raids across Ogun and Lagos states on May 16 following months of intelligence gathering.
“The primary target was a remote farm located at Abidagba forest, in Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State. This farm was being used as a massive, highly dangerous clandestine methamphetamine laboratory by the Anochili Innocent Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO),” he said.
He added that another tactical team simultaneously raided a residence in the Lakowe area of Lekki, Lagos, where the alleged kingpin, identified as Anochili Innocent, was arrested.
“At the farm in the Ijebu forest, our operatives overran the clandestine laboratory in Ogun State, securing the perimeter and catching the syndicates completely off-guard,” the statement added.
“Among those arrested are three Mexican nationals brought into the country specifically to cook this deadly substance, alongside four Nigerian collaborators.”
The arrested Mexican nationals were identified as Martinez Felix Nemecto, Jesus López Valles, and Torrero Juan Carlos.
The Nigerian suspects apprehended at the forest laboratory include Nwankwo Sunday Christian, Igwe Abuchi Remijus, Ifeanyichukwu Chibuike Joshua, and Egwuonwu Uchenna Victor.
Babafemi also disclosed that another suspect, Kingsley Orike Omonughwa, was later arrested at a property linked to the alleged cartel leader in Lekki. Operatives additionally raided the residence of another syndicate member, Emeka Nwobum, which authorities said served as the cartel’s stash house.
According to the agency, the total number of suspects in custody has risen to 10, including the alleged kingpin, three Mexican nationals, and six Nigerian collaborators.
Providing details of the seizure, Babafemi said NDLEA operatives recovered 2,419.48 kilograms of chemical materials, including finished and liquid methamphetamine, toxic precursor chemicals, and industrial solvents.
“The operation yielded a massive 2,419.48 kilograms (over 2.4 tons) of chemical materials, including highly toxic, volatile, and crystallized methamphetamine worth Three Hundred and Sixty-Two Million, Nine Hundred and Twenty-Two Thousand Dollars ($362,922,000.00) in the international market,” he said.
“This translates to over Four Hundred and Eighty Billion Naira (N480,000,000,000.00). Imagine this humongous amount in the control of criminal elements!”
The NDLEA also recovered a Toyota Tacoma vehicle allegedly used for operations at the forest laboratory, as well as a Toyota Highlander seized from the residence of the suspected cartel leader.
