The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has broken up a transnational methamphetamine syndicate involving Nigerian and Mexican nationals, seizing drugs and chemicals valued at roughly ₦480 billion.

NDLEA Chairman Mohamed Buba Marwa announced the breakthrough at a briefing in Abuja, calling it one of the agency’s largest operations against organised drug trafficking. The bust followed months of intelligence work and involved coordinated raids in Ogun and Lagos states within a 48-hour window.

In Ijebu East LGA, Ogun State, operatives uncovered what they described as the biggest illegal meth lab ever found in Nigeria, hidden inside Abidagba Forest. Seven people were arrested at the site, including three Mexicans—Martinez Felix Nemecto, Jesus López Valles, and Torrero Juan Carlos—allegedly brought in as production experts. 

Four Nigerians were also detained: Nwankwo Sunday Christian, Igwe Abuchi Remijus, Ifeanyichukwu Chibuike Joshua, and Egwuonwu Uchenna Victor.

A separate raid in Lakowe, Lekki, led to the arrest of the alleged ringleader, Anochili Innocent. Investigators said passports and phones belonging to the Mexican suspects found at his residence tied him to the network. A follow-up operation netted another suspect, Kingsley Orike Omonughwa.

In total, NDLEA recovered 2,419.48kg of methamphetamine and precursor chemicals worth an estimated $362.9 million.

Marwa said the scale of the seizure showed a direct threat to public health and national security, vowing that Nigeria would not be used as a base for international cartels.

Source: X / TVC News