The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dismantled a major transnational methamphetamine syndicate involving Nigerian and Mexican nationals, in what authorities described as one of the biggest anti-narcotics operations in the country’s history.
The operation led to the discovery and shutdown of a massive clandestine meth laboratory hidden deep inside a forest in the Ijebu area of Ogun State, the seizure of methamphetamine and precursor chemicals worth over N480 billion, and the arrest of a suspected drug baron, three Mexican “meth cooks,” and six Nigerian collaborators.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa, disclosed this during a media briefing in Abuja on Wednesday.
According to Marwa, the breakthrough followed months of intelligence gathering and coordinated surveillance by operatives of the agency’s elite Special Operations Unit.
He said simultaneous raids were carried out across Ogun and Lagos States within 48 hours, targeting both the forest-based meth lab and luxury properties linked to the cartel’s leadership.
Forest Meth Factory Uncovered
Marwa revealed that the primary target was a remote farm settlement in Abidagba Forest, Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State, where the cartel had established what he described as the largest clandestine methamphetamine production laboratory ever uncovered in Nigeria.
He said operatives stormed the facility on May 16, catching members of the syndicate off guard while processing illicit substances.
Among those arrested at the forest laboratory were four Nigerians: Nwankwo Sunday Christian, Igwe Abuchi Remijus, Ifeanyichukwu Chibuike Joshua, and Egwuonwu Uchenna Victor, as well as three Mexican nationals identified as Martinez Felix Nemecto, Jesus López Valles, and Torrero Juan Carlos.
According to the NDLEA boss, intelligence gathered during the operation confirmed that the Mexican nationals were brought into Nigeria specifically to provide technical expertise for methamphetamine production.
In a parallel operation, another tactical team raided the Lekki residence of the alleged cartel kingpin, identified as Anochili Innocent, at Golf Estate, Lakowe, Lagos, where he was arrested.
Marwa said investigators recovered international passports and mobile phones belonging to the Mexican suspects from the residence, directly linking the suspects to the importation and coordination of the foreign drug experts.
Further follow-up operations led operatives to another property in Mayfair Estate, Lakowe, where another syndicate member, Kingsley Orike Omonughwa, was arrested.
The agency also raided the residence of another suspect, Emeka Nwobum, allegedly used as a strategic stash house for the cartel’s operations.
The arrests bring the total number of suspects in custody to 10, including the alleged drug baron, three Mexican nationals, and six Nigerian collaborators.
N480bn Worth of Meth Seized
Marwa disclosed that NDLEA’s Chemical and Forensic Team recovered 2,419.48 kilograms of methamphetamine and precursor chemicals from the forest laboratory.
He estimated the street value of the seized drugs and chemicals at about $362.9 million, equivalent to more than N480 billion.
According to him, the substances recovered included crystallised methamphetamine, industrial solvents, and other highly toxic precursor chemicals used in the production process.
He warned that the volume of drugs intercepted could have translated into millions of street doses capable of causing widespread addiction, violence, mental health disorders, and insecurity within Nigeria and beyond.
READ ALSO:
- Death By Misinformation: How 15-year-old Boy Lost His Life over Drug Abuse
- NDLEA Arrests 93-Year-Old Man, Medical Doctor, others in Nationwide Drug Crackdown
- NDLEA Records 77,792 Arrests, 14.8m Kg of Drugs Seized in 5 Years
- NDLEA Seizes ₦2.8bn Worth of Illicit Drugs in 2025
The NDLEA chairman said the latest bust sends a strong warning to international drug cartels attempting to establish operations in Nigeria.
“Nigeria is hostile territory for drug cartels and criminal syndicates. No matter how deep into the forest you hide, or how fortified your estates may be, NDLEA will track you down and dismantle your operations,” Marwa said.
He noted a growing trend of foreign cartel specialists being recruited into Nigeria to establish local meth production factories, particularly in remote rural communities.
Marwa commended the professionalism and bravery of the agency’s Special Operations Unit and forensic personnel, while also acknowledging support from international law enforcement partners.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities, especially unusual chemical odours and movements in isolated communities, warning that criminal syndicates increasingly disguise drug laboratories as legitimate farms and businesses.
The NDLEA described the operation as another major milestone in its intensified war against transnational drug trafficking and organized crime networks operating within and outside Nigeria.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.