NDLEA busts Nigeria-Mexico drug syndicate, recovers N480bn meth in Ogun

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has uncovered and dismantled a major transnational methamphetamine production syndicate allegedly operated by Nigerian traffickers in collaboration with Mexican nationals, leading to the arrest of 10 suspects and the seizure of illicit drugs and chemicals valued at more than N480 billion.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Buba Marwa, disclosed this on Wednesday during a press briefing at the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja.

Marwa described the operation as one of the agency’s biggest breakthroughs, revealing that operatives shut down what he called the largest clandestine methamphetamine laboratory ever discovered in Nigeria.

According to him, the facility was located deep inside Abidagba forest in Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun and allegedly operated by the Anochili Innocent Drug Trafficking Organisation.

He said the coordinated raid was carried out simultaneously in Ogun and Lagos on May 16 after months of intelligence gathering and surveillance.

“Through a clinical, simultaneous operation executed by the elite operatives of our Special Operations Unit, we have successfully dismantled a sophisticated, transnational methamphetamine production syndicate run jointly by a Nigerian drug cartel and their Mexican counterparts,” Marwa said.

He added that the syndicate was not only involved in trafficking narcotics but had established a large-scale meth production network within Nigeria.

Seven suspects, including three Mexican nationals allegedly recruited to oversee meth production, were arrested at the forest laboratory.

The foreign suspects were identified as Martinez Felix Nemecto, Jesus López Valles and Torrero Juan Carlos, while the Nigerian suspects arrested at the site included Nwankwo Sunday Christian, Igwe Abuchi Remijus, Ifeanyichukwu Chibuike Joshua and Egwuonwu Uchenna Victor.

Marwa further disclosed that operatives later arrested the alleged cartel leader, Anochili Innocent, at his residence in the Lekki area of Lagos.

According to him, a search conducted at the property uncovered the passports and mobile phones belonging to the Mexican nationals, linking the suspect directly to their entry and operations in Nigeria.

Another suspect, Kingsley Orike Omonughwa, was subsequently arrested at a separate property in Mayfair Estate, Lakowe, while operatives also raided a suspected stash house allegedly belonging to another syndicate member, Emeka Nwobum.

The NDLEA boss said the operation led to the seizure of 2,419.48 kilograms of methamphetamine and precursor chemicals valued at approximately $362.9 million in the international market.

“The operation yielded a massive 2,419.48 kilograms of chemical materials, including highly toxic, volatile and crystallised methamphetamine worth over N480 billion,” he stated.

Recovered items also included operational vehicles allegedly used by the syndicate.

Marwa warned that the agency would sustain its crackdown on drug cartels and expressed concern over the increasing involvement of foreign drug specialists in establishing illegal narcotics laboratories within rural communities in Nigeria.

He urged Nigerians to remain alert and report suspicious activities, noting that the clandestine laboratory in Ogun had been disguised as a regular farming operation.

Meanwhile, the NDLEA also announced the destruction of two cannabis plantations in Ago Forest, Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo.

The Edo State Commander of the agency, Mitchell Ofoyeju, said the farms yielded 1,388.42 kilograms of cannabis, while four suspected traffickers were arrested during separate operations in the state.