NDLEA Dismantles Major Methamphetamine Lab, Arrests Nigerians and Foreign Nationals
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dismantled Nigeria's largest clandestine methamphetamine laboratory in Ogun State, apprehending an alleged drug kingpin, three Mexican nationals, and six Nigerian collaborators. The operation, which involved months of intelligence gathering, led to the seizure of over 2.4 tonnes of methamphetamine worth an estimated $362.9 million. This bust underscores the NDLEA's ongoing battle against transnational organized crime, recalling past challenges with the prosecution of similar cases involving Mexican cartels.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has dismantled what it describes as the largest clandestine methamphetamine laboratory ever uncovered in Nigeria, following coordinated operations in Ogun and Lagos states.
The operation led to the arrest of 10 suspects, including three Mexican nationals and several Nigerians allegedly linked to an international drug trafficking network.
NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi said operatives from the agency’s Special Operations Unit carried out the raids after months of intelligence gathering and surveillance. The operation targeted a large-scale methamphetamine production facility concealed within a forest in Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State.
According to NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Marwa, the operation dealt a significant blow to a transnational drug syndicate allegedly involving Nigerian and foreign collaborators.
At the forest laboratory, officers arrested three Mexican nationals identified as Martinez Felix Nemecto, Jesus López Valles and Torrero Juan Carlos. Authorities allege they were recruited to assist in the production of methamphetamine in Nigeria.
Several Nigerian suspects were also apprehended at the site, while a separate operation in Lekki, Lagos, led to the arrest of alleged cartel leader Anochili Innocent.
Investigators said documents and mobile devices recovered during the raids helped establish links between the suspects and the alleged drug manufacturing operation. Follow-up operations expanded the investigation, resulting in additional arrests and searches of other properties connected to the network.
The agency reported the seizure of approximately 2,419 kilograms of methamphetamine and precursor chemicals allegedly used in the production process. NDLEA estimates the illicit substances have a street value running into hundreds of millions of dollars on international markets.
Authorities also recovered vehicles allegedly used by members of the syndicate during the operation.
Marwa warned that criminal groups involved in drug manufacturing and trafficking would continue to face aggressive enforcement measures. He said intelligence operations would be intensified to identify and dismantle similar networks operating across the country.
The NDLEA chief noted that traffickers have increasingly adopted sophisticated methods, including recruiting foreign specialists and establishing production facilities in remote rural areas to evade detection.
The arrests have renewed attention on previous cases involving foreign nationals linked to methamphetamine production in Nigeria. In 2016, NDLEA operatives dismantled another clandestine laboratory in Delta State and arrested several foreign and Nigerian suspects connected to an international drug syndicate.
While investigations into the latest case continue, the operation marks one of the agency’s most significant drug enforcement successes in recent years and underscores growing efforts to combat transnational organized crime in Nigeria.