Amanze Chinonye
Months of intelligence gathering, covert surveillance, and simultaneous tactical raids led operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to what officials now describe as the largest clandestine methamphetamine laboratory ever uncovered in Nigeria, Prime Business Africa reports.
Hidden deep inside Abidagba Forest in Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State, the industrial-scale facility operated under the cover of a farm settlement while producing large quantities of methamphetamine for local distribution and international trafficking networks, investigators said.
The discovery culminated in a coordinated operation across Ogun and Lagos states that resulted in the arrest of 10 suspects, including three Mexican nationals allegedly recruited to supervise the chemical production process.
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At a briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Buba Marwa, said the operation followed months of intelligence-driven investigations into the activities of the Anochili Innocent Drug Trafficking Organisation.
According to him, investigators began tracking unusual movements and suspected chemical supplies linked to the remote forest settlement before uncovering evidence of a sophisticated drug production network.
“The primary target was a remote farm located in Abidagba Forest in Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State,” Marwa said.
“This farm was being used as a massive, highly dangerous clandestine methamphetamine laboratory by the Anochili Innocent Drug Trafficking Organisation.”
NDLEA said the syndicate adopted a dual operational structure, concealing production activities inside the forest while coordinating logistics and financial operations from high-end residences in Lagos.
On May 16, operatives of the agency’s Special Operations Unit launched simultaneous raids on the Ogun laboratory and the Lekki residence of the alleged cartel leader, identified as Anochili Innocent.
Officials said the strategy was designed to prevent members of the network from escaping or destroying evidence.
At the forest laboratory, operatives reportedly intercepted suspects while illicit substances were still being processed.
Among those arrested were three Mexican nationals identified as Martinez Felix Nemecto, 46; Jesus López Valles, 40; and Torrero Juan Carlos, 51.
Four Nigerian suspects Nwankwo Sunday Christian, 41; Igwe Abuchi Remijus, 42; Ifeanyichukwu Chibuike Joshua, 23; and Egwuonwu Uchenna Victor, 38 were also arrested at the scene.
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Marwa said the arrests confirmed NDLEA intelligence indicating that Nigerian drug cartels were increasingly importing foreign specialists to establish methamphetamine production facilities within the country.
“Most notably, the operation confirms our intelligence regarding the importation of foreign technical expertise by local cartels,” he said.
“Among those arrested are three Mexican nationals brought into the country specifically to cook this deadly substance alongside Nigerian collaborators.”
Simultaneously, another tactical team raided a luxury property located on Tafawa Balewa Street in the Lakowe area of Lekki, Lagos, where the alleged kingpin was arrested.
NDLEA said searches conducted at the residence led to the recovery of international passports and mobile phones belonging to the Mexican suspects, which investigators believe established a direct operational link between the foreign nationals and the cartel leadership.
Further follow-up operations later extended to another property in Lakowe, where operatives arrested another suspect, Kingsley Orike Omonughwa, 44.
Investigators also uncovered a separate property allegedly used by the syndicate as a stash house.
The agency said specialised chemical and forensic teams were subsequently deployed to analyse and secure substances recovered from the laboratory.
In total, NDLEA said operatives seized 2,419.48 kilograms of methamphetamine, precursor chemicals, and industrial solvents with an estimated international street value of about $362.9 million, equivalent to approximately N480 billion.
Marwa described the seizure as one of the largest in the agency’s history and warned that the volume recovered could have translated into millions of street-level doses.
The NDLEA boss said the operation reflects an evolving pattern in transnational drug trafficking, with criminal syndicates increasingly shifting from transit operations to local manufacturing hubs concealed in remote communities.
He added that the agency would intensify surveillance operations in rural settlements and forest corridors suspected to be vulnerable to clandestine drug activities.
The Ogun operation comes amid growing concerns among international anti-narcotics agencies over the expansion of synthetic drug production networks across West Africa, following recent arrests linked to similar operations in South Africa involving Mexican nationals.
Amanze Chinonye is a Staff Correspondent at Prime Business Africa, a rising star in the literary world, weaving captivating stories that transport readers to the vibrant landscapes of Nigeria and the rest of Africa. With a unique voice that blends with the newspaper's tradition and style, Chinonye's writing is a masterful exploration of the human condition, delving into themes of identity, culture, and social justice. Through her words, Chinonye paints vivid portraits of everyday African life, from the bustling markets of Nigeria's Lagos to the quiet villages of South Africa's countryside . With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the complexities of Nigerian society, Chinonye's writing is both a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage and a powerful call to action for a brighter future. As a writer, Chinonye is a true storyteller, using her dexterity to educate, inspire, and uplift readers around the world.
