NDLEA meth syndicate operation in Ogun leads to 10 arrests and seizure of drugs and chemicals worth over N480bn

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency on Wednesday announced the dismantling of a deadly transnational methamphetamine production network jointly operated by a Nigerian drug cartel and Mexican collaborators, leading to the arrest of 10 suspects and the recovery of illicit drugs and chemicals valued at more than N480bn.

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The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (retd.), disclosed the development during a media briefing at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.

Marwa said the operation uncovered what the agency described as the largest clandestine methamphetamine laboratory ever discovered in Nigeria.

According to him, the hidden laboratory was located inside Abidagba Forest in Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State and operated by the Anochili Innocent Drug Trafficking Organisation.

He explained that the operation was carried out simultaneously in Ogun and Lagos states on May 16, 2026, after months of intelligence gathering and surveillance by operatives of the NDLEA Special Operations Unit.

Marwa described the syndicate as a sophisticated criminal network involved in industrial-scale drug production.

“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,” he said.

The NDLEA boss stated that seven suspects were arrested at the forest laboratory, including three Mexican nationals allegedly recruited to manufacture methamphetamine in Nigeria.

The foreign suspects were identified as Martinez Nemecto, 46; Jesus Valles, 40; and Torrero Carlos, 51.

The Nigerian suspects arrested at the laboratory included Nwankwo Christian, 41; Igwe Remijus, 42; Ifeanyichukwu Joshua, 23; and Egwuonwu Victor, 38.

Marwa said operatives also arrested the alleged kingpin of the cartel, Anochili Innocent, at his residence on Tafawa Balewa Street, Golf Estate, Lakowe, Lekki, Lagos.

He added that searches conducted at the residence led to the recovery of the passports and mobile phones belonging to the arrested Mexican nationals, linking the suspect directly to their entry and operations in Nigeria.

The NDLEA further disclosed that another suspect, Kingsley Orike Omonughwa, 44, was arrested during follow-up operations at a property in Mayfair Estate, Lakowe, Lekki.

According to Marwa, operatives also raided the residence of another syndicate member, Emeka Nwobum, which allegedly served as the cartel’s stash house.

The agency said the total number of suspects arrested in connection with the NDLEA meth syndicate operation had risen to 10, including six Nigerians, three Mexican nationals and the alleged drug baron.

Marwa revealed that the operation led to the seizure of 2,419.48 kilograms of methamphetamine and precursor chemicals.

He said the recovered substances, including crystallised and liquid methamphetamine, were valued at approximately $362.9m in the international market, equivalent to more than N480bn.

The agency also recovered a Toyota Tacoma allegedly used for activities at the clandestine laboratory and a Toyota Highlander seized from the residence of the alleged cartel leader.

Marwa warned that the NDLEA would continue to intensify operations against drug trafficking organisations and foreign collaborators operating within Nigeria.

“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,” he said.

He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities in their communities, noting that the clandestine facility in Ogun State operated under the guise of a regular farm.

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The operation represents one of the most significant anti-narcotics breakthroughs recorded by the NDLEA in recent years and highlights growing concerns over the expansion of international drug production networks within Nigeria.