The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has uncovered and dismantled a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory allegedly run by a Nigerian-Mexican drug syndicate in Enugu State.

The secret lab was located at Eziama community, Obeagu in Awgu Local Government Area.

Spokesman of the agency, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, September 25, saying the operation followed months of intelligence gathering and surveillance by its Special Operations Unit.

Two principal suspects were arrested — 45-year-old Chukwu Obumneme Christopher, alias Brown, and 60-year-old Chukwu Georginus Monday, alias George. The agency alleges they were operating the facility in collaboration with a Mexican national, Rodriguez Villanueva, said to be a member of a drug cartel based in Mexico City.

According to Babafemi, surveillance between December 1 and 4, 2025 tracked Brown’s movement across Lagos, Enugu and Anambra States before operatives traced him to the Obeagu compound where the lab, equipped with improvised reactors and distillation equipment capable of mass-producing meth, was discovered.

The facility is similar to other secret labs recently dismantled in Ogun, Oyo and Ebonyi States.

A search of the premises led to recovery of large quantities of precursor chemicals — including 690 litres of methylamine, 1,000 litres of isopropyl alcohol, 300 litres of hydrochloric acid, 290 litres each of toluene and acetone, 400 litres of liquid sodium hydroxide, 125kg of N-phenylacetamide, 414kg of lead acetate and 769.6kg of tartaric acid.

A follow-up search at George’s residence also yielded eight large fuel tanks, four industrial gas burners, four dehydrators and 11kg of ephedrine.

Both suspects were arraigned before Justice Mabel Taiye Segun-Bello of the Federal High Court, Enugu, on a five-count charge of conspiracy, organising and financing a drug trafficking organisation and unlawful possession of precursor chemicals under the NDLEA Act. They pleaded not guilty and the court fixed October 21, 2026 for trial after granting NDLEA’s request for accelerated hearing.

Three other suspects — Uchenna alias Uche, Celestine Ikemefuna Iwuchukwu and Rodriguez Villanueva — were named in the charge and are currently at large.

NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd), commended the operatives and vowed to track down all fleeing suspects, stressing that Nigeria will not be allowed to become a hub for transnational drug cartels.

Source: NDLEA / Daily Post,  Channels news.