NDLEA smashes Nigerian-Mexican meth lab hidden in Ogun forest, arrests 10

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) announced on Wednesday that it had dismantled what it called a highly organised Nigerian-Mexican methamphetamine production ring operating from a concealed laboratory deep inside a forest in Ogun State.

The raid, executed by the agency’s Special Operations Unit (SOU), resulted in the arrest of ten individuals—comprising the suspected kingpin, three Mexican nationals, and six Nigerian accomplices.

Authorities also seized methamphetamine and chemical substances valued at over ₦480 billion.

Addressing a media briefing in Abuja, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), stated that the operation followed months of intelligence work and coordinated raids across Ogun and Lagos states within a 48-hour period.

“Barely two weeks ago, we announced the successful takedown of a high-profile Drug Trafficking Organisation (DTO) headed by Simon Amadi in a complex, multi-country operation involving the US Drug Enforcement Administration, the Swiss, French, and the Greek law enforcement agencies. Today, I am proud to announce that the NDLEA has struck another crippling blow to the heart of transnational organised crime,” Marwa said.

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

Marwa explained that the syndicate ran a large-scale methamphetamine laboratory situated in the Abidagba forest within Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State.

“This farm was being used as a massive, highly dangerous clandestine methamphetamine laboratory by the Anochili Innocent Drug Trafficking Organisation (DTO),” he said.

“This network did not just traffic drugs; they were actively manufacturing industrial-scale quantities of highly lethal illicit substances right on our soil, threatening the national security and public health of Nigeria,” he stated.

The NDLEA chief disclosed that operatives stormed the forest laboratory on May 16, catching cartel members off guard while they were processing illegal substances.

Marwa further revealed that another tactical team simultaneously raided the Lekki residence of the alleged cartel leader, where he was apprehended.

“Simultaneously, another tactical team closed in on the luxury residence of the cartel’s mastermind, Anochili Innocent, located at No. 8 Tafawa Balewa Street, Golf Estate, Lakowe, Lekki area of Lagos State. The drug baron was cornered and arrested,” he said.

According to Marwa, a search of the residence uncovered passports and mobile phones belonging to the arrested Mexican nationals, directly linking the suspect to their entry and operations in Nigeria.

The NDLEA chairman noted that follow-up operations later led to the arrest of another suspect at a different property in Lekki, while operatives also discovered a stash house allegedly linked to another syndicate member.

Marwa revealed that the operation netted 2,419.48 kilograms of methamphetamine and precursor chemicals, valued at $362.9 million on the international market.

“The operation yielded a massive 2,419.48 kilograms (over 2.4 tons) of chemical materials, including highly toxic, volatile, and crystallized methamphetamine worth $362,922,000.00 in the international market,” he said.

He warned that the NDLEA would continue to target drug cartels and their collaborators across the country.

“We are fully aware of the shifting tactics of these cartels, including the disturbing trend of hiring South American cartel specialists to set up production factories in our rural communities. Let it be known that no matter how deep into the bush you hide, no matter how secure your gated estate is, the NDLEA will hunt you down, disrupt your networks, and seize your ill-gotten wealth,” Marwa cautioned.

He also urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities in their communities, noting that the Ogun forest laboratory had been operating under the guise of a regular farm.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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