ABUJA, Nigeria (FN) — Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has dismantled a transnational methamphetamine syndicate jointly run by Nigerian and Mexican cartels, seizing illicit drugs and chemicals worth more than N480 billion and arresting 10 suspects.
NDLEA Chairman Buba Marwa announced the breakthrough Wednesday, describing it as the largest clandestine meth lab ever uncovered in the country. The facility was hidden deep in Abidagba forest, Ijebu East, Ogun State, and operated by the Anochili Innocent Drug Trafficking Organisation.
The coordinated operation, carried out simultaneously in Ogun and Lagos on May 16, followed months of intelligence gathering. Seven suspects were arrested at the forest lab, including three Mexican nationals allegedly brought in to produce methamphetamine. The cartel’s alleged kingpin, Anochili Innocent, was later arrested at his Lagos residence, where passports and phones belonging to the Mexicans were recovered.
Marwa said the haul included 2,419 kilograms of methamphetamine and precursor chemicals, valued at S362 million internationally. Vehicles linked to the cartel were also seized. “This represents millions of street doses that would have flooded our communities and international markets, causing untold destruction, psychosis, and violence,” he said.
The NDLEA boss warned that cartels are increasingly hiring South American specialists to set up production in rural Nigeria, urging citizens to report suspicious activity. He noted the lab operated under the cover of a farm.
The arrests included Mexican nationals Martinez Felix Nemecto, 46; Jesus López Valles, 40; and Torrero Juan Carlos, 51, alongside Nigerian collaborators Nwankwo Sunday Christian, 41; Igwe Abuchi Remijus, 42; Ifeanyichukwu Chibuike Joshua, 23; and Egwuonwu Uchenna Victor, 38. Follow-up raids in Lagos led to the arrest of Kingsley Orike Omonughwa, 44, and Emeka Nwobum, whose residence allegedly served as a stash house.
The crackdown comes days after NDLEA operatives destroyed two cannabis farms in Edo State, yielding 1,388 kilograms of marijuana and arresting four suspects.
Drug enforcement experts say the bust highlights Nigeria’s growing role in global narcotics networks. Similar cases have emerged in Southeast Asia, where meth labs hidden in rural areas have fueled addiction crises. Analysts warn that Nigeria’s proximity to major shipping routes makes it a target for cartels seeking to expand production.
On social media, many Nigerians praised the NDLEA’s success, calling it “a victory for public health and security.” Others expressed concern about the scale of the operation, with one user writing, “If N480 billion worth of drugs can be hidden in our forests, how many more are out there?”
Marwa vowed continued vigilance. “We will not relent. Our fight against drug cartels is a fight for the soul of our nation,” he said.
