NDLEA Dismantles Nigerian-Mexican Meth Cartel, Arrests Drug Baron, Three Mexicans, Six Others

NDLEA Dismantles Nigerian-Mexican Meth Cartel, Arrests Drug Baron, Three Mexicans, Six Others

....Recovers N480bn Worth of Meth, Chemicals from Massive Ogun Forest Laboratory

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has dismantled a major transnational drug syndicate involving Nigerian and Mexican nationals, uncovering what authorities described as the largest clandestine methamphetamine laboratory ever discovered in Nigeria.

The operation, carried out by the agency’s Special Operations Unit, led to the arrest of 10 suspects, including three Mexican methamphetamine experts, six Nigerian collaborators, and the alleged cartel leader, identified as Anochili Innocent.

Addressing journalists at the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Mohamed Buba Marwa, said the coordinated raids followed months of intelligence gathering and surveillance across Ogun and Lagos states.

According to Marwa, operatives stormed a remote forest camp located in Abidagba Forest, Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State, where the syndicate operated an industrial-scale methamphetamine production laboratory disguised as a farm.

He said the operation also targeted the Lekki residence of the alleged cartel boss at Golf Estate, Lakowe, Lagos, where investigators recovered the international passports and mobile phones belonging to the arrested Mexican nationals.

The three Mexican suspects arrested during the operation were identified as Martinez Felix Nemecto, Jesus López Valles, and Torrero Juan Carlos, while the Nigerian suspects apprehended at the forest laboratory include Nwankwo Sunday Christian, Igwe Abuchi Remijus, Ifeanyichukwu Chibuike Joshua, and Egwuonwu Uchenna Victor.

Marwa disclosed that follow-up operations led to the arrest of another suspect, Kingsley Orike Omonughwa, at a property linked to the cartel in Mayfair Estate, Lakowe, while another hideout allegedly used as a stash house was traced to a syndicate member identified as Emeka Nwobum.

The NDLEA boss said the agency recovered 2,419.48 kilograms of methamphetamine and precursor chemicals during the operation, with an estimated international street value of 362.9 million dollars, equivalent to over N480 billion.

Items recovered from the cartel included toxic precursor chemicals, industrial solvents, a Toyota Tacoma vehicle allegedly used for operations at the forest laboratory, and a Toyota Highlander linked to the cartel leader.

Marwa described the seizure as one of the biggest operational breakthroughs in the agency’s history, warning that Nigeria had become a hostile environment for international drug cartels.

He noted that the latest crackdown came shortly after the dismantling of another international drug trafficking network allegedly headed by Simon Amadi, in collaboration with foreign law enforcement agencies, including the United States Drug Enforcement Administration.

The NDLEA chairman warned drug barons and criminal networks against using Nigeria as a production base for illicit drugs, stressing that the agency would continue to intensify intelligence-driven operations across the country.

He also urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities, especially unusual chemical odours and movements in rural communities.

Marwa commended the professionalism and bravery of NDLEA operatives involved in the operation, as well as the support of international partners assisting Nigeria in combating transnational drug trafficking.