The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has uncovered and dismantled a large-scale methamphetamine laboratory hidden inside a forest in Ogun State, arresting three Mexican nationals and several Nigerian suspects linked to the operation.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, disclosed that operatives recovered over 2.4 tonnes of methamphetamine and related chemical substances valued at more than $362 million, estimated at over N480 billion in the international market.
According to the agency, the clandestine laboratory was located in Abidagba forest in Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State and was allegedly operated by a transnational drug syndicate involving Nigerian traffickers and Mexican methamphetamine experts.
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Babafemi said the operation followed months of intelligence gathering and was executed simultaneously in Ogun and Lagos states on May 16 by operatives of the agency’s Special Operations Unit (SOU).
He explained that while one tactical team stormed the forest laboratory in Ogun, another team raided a residence in the Lakowe area of Lekki, Lagos, where the alleged cartel leader, identified as Anochili Innocent, was arrested.
The NDLEA spokesperson said the operation caught members of the syndicate off guard, leading to the arrest of three Mexican nationals identified as Martinez Felix Nemecto, Jesus López Valles, and Torrero Juan Carlos.
Four Nigerian suspects arrested at the forest laboratory were identified as Nwankwo Sunday Christian, Igwe Abuchi Remijus, Ifeanyichukwu Chibuike Joshua, and Egwuonwu Uchenna Victor.
Babafemi added that investigators later arrested another suspect, Kingsley Orike Omonughwa, at a property linked to the alleged cartel leader in Lekki, while operatives also raided the residence of another syndicate member, Emeka Nwobum, allegedly used as a stash house for the cartel.
He noted that the total number of suspects currently in custody had risen to 10, including the alleged kingpin, the 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, precursor chemicals, and industrial solvents.
“This network did not just traffic drugs; they were actively manufacturing industrial-scale quantities of highly lethal illicit substances right on our soil, threatening national security and public health,” the statement said.
The agency also recovered a Toyota Tacoma vehicle allegedly used for operations at the forest laboratory and a Toyota Highlander seized from the residence of the alleged cartel leader.
