NDLEA dismantles Nigerian-Mexican meth cartel, seizes N480bn drugs in massive Ogun forest raid

Crime Diary

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has dismantled a major Nigerian-Mexican methamphetamine cartel, arrested its alleged kingpin alongside three Mexican drug experts and six Nigerian collaborators, and seized illicit drugs and chemical substances valued at over N480 billion in what officials described as the biggest methamphetamine bust in Nigeria’s history.

The operation, carried out by the agency’s Special Operations Unit (SOU), led to the discovery and shutdown of a massive clandestine meth laboratory hidden deep inside Abidagba forest in Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State.

Addressing journalists at the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Mohamed Buba Marwa, said the operation followed months of intelligence gathering and coordinated surveillance across Ogun and Lagos States.

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According to Marwa, operatives launched simultaneous raids on May 16, 2026, targeting both the hidden laboratory and the luxury Lagos residence of the cartel’s alleged mastermind, identified as Anochili Innocent.

“The NDLEA has struck another crippling blow to the heart of transnational organized crime,” Marwa 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.”

The NDLEA boss disclosed that seven suspects were arrested inside the forest laboratory, including three Mexican nationals allegedly brought into Nigeria specifically to manufacture methamphetamine.

The foreign suspects were identified as Martinez Felix Nemecto, Jesus López Valles and Torrero Juan Carlos, while the Nigerian suspects arrested at the lab included Nwankwo Sunday Christian, Igwe Abuchi Remijus, Ifeanyichukwu Chibuike Joshua and Egwuonwu Uchenna Victor.

Simultaneously, another tactical team stormed the residence of Anochili Innocent at Golf Estate, Lakowe, Lekki, Lagos, where he was arrested.

Marwa said operatives recovered the international passports and mobile phones of the Mexican suspects from the drug baron’s residence, directly linking him to the recruitment and management of the foreign methamphetamine specialists.

Further operations carried out on May 18 reportedly led to the arrest of another syndicate member, Kingsley Orike Omonughwa, at a separate property in Mayfair Estate, Lakowe, while investigators also uncovered another stash house allegedly linked to the cartel.

According to the NDLEA, the operation resulted in the seizure of 2,419.48 kilograms of methamphetamine, precursor chemicals and industrial solvents valued at approximately $362.9 million on the international market, equivalent to more than N480 billion.

The agency also recovered operational vehicles, including a Toyota Tacoma used at the forest laboratory and a Toyota Highlander linked to the cartel leader.

“To put this in perspective, the 2,419.48 kilograms of finished and liquid methamphetamine seized represents millions of street doses that would have flooded our local communities and international markets, causing untold destruction, psychosis, and violence,” Marwa stated.

He warned international drug cartels that Nigeria has become hostile territory for narcotics operations, particularly amid what he described as a growing trend of foreign drug specialists being recruited into local criminal networks.

“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,” he warned.

Marwa also urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities, noting that the forest laboratory operated under the guise of a regular farm.