NDLEA busts multi-billion-naira meth lab, arrests Mexican, four Nigerians

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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has uncovered a multi-billion-naira clandestine methamphetamine laboratory in Oyo State and arrested five suspects, including a Mexican national allegedly recruited to provide technical expertise for the illicit operation.

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Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), disclosed this on Wednesday during a press briefing in Abuja, describing the discovery as a major breakthrough in the agency’s ongoing campaign against drug trafficking and production syndicates.

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Represented by the agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, Marwa said the laboratory, located deep inside a forest in Tapa Village, Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo State, was raided on June 17 following actionable intelligence.

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He said, “Today, we are proud to announce that our operatives, acting on zero-sharp, credible intelligence, have struck another decisive blow deeper into the heart of yet another cartel.

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“Tactical operatives of the NDLEA stormed the highly fortified industrial-scale clandestine methamphetamine laboratory operating deep within the forest of Tapa Village. This is not a rudimentary set-up; it was a sophisticated, highly organised transnational syndicate.”

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The NDLEA boss identified the suspects arrested during the operation as a 56-year-old Mexican methamphetamine expert, Jose Villa Ochoa, and four Nigerians – Maxwell Nevoh, 30; Olatunji Yusuf, 37; Bankole Owolabi, 45; and Ganiu Monsiu, 43.

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Marwa said the arrest of the foreign suspect highlighted the international dimension of the drug trade.

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“The arrest of a foreign cartel specialist on Nigerian soil underscores the transnational nature of this threat, but more importantly, it underscores our agency’s world-class intelligence capability to track, intercept and neutralise them,” he said.

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He disclosed that forensic experts deployed to the site after the raid uncovered what he described as “a massive factory-level production line of poison.”

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According to him, the laboratory was stocked with large quantities of precursor chemicals, industrial catalysts and processing equipment used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.

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Among the materials recovered were several drums containing phenyl-2-propanone, phenylacetic acid, crystalline substances suspected to be methamphetamine, caustic soda, sulphuric acid and other chemical compounds.

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He said, “The laboratory was fully stocked with a frightening array of precursor chemicals, industrial catalysts, and heavy-duty processing equipment. Chemicals and Materials recovered include: Phenyl-2-propanone, which is the main, highly controlled precursor required for methamphetamine synthesis; 1800-litre drums containing Phenylacetic acid (the primary precursor used to synthesise P2P); Two 180L drums containing a staggering 300 litres of whitish crystalline substance; Four 180L drums containing dark liquid undergoing synthesis.
n“Others include: 101 bags (25kg each) of Caustic Soda; 17 containers (25L each) of Sulphuric Acid; 19.5 containers (25kg each) of Tartaric Acid; 5 containers of Reniso Ultracool 68 (three 50L and two 25L capacity; 25 bottles (500ml each) of 80% Thioglycolic Acid; 2 containers (25L each) of Ethyl Phenylacetate, and 25 cartons of aluminum foil.n

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“The Industrial Processing Equipment discovered at the site includes: One Reactor Pot, which is the heart of the chemical synthesis; two mounted distillation units and three fabricated mixers and condensers; as well as two vegetable dehydrator machines used for the rapid drying of the crystals.”

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Marwa said immediate field tests conducted by forensic experts confirmed the presence of methamphetamine.

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“Samples of the finished crystals recovered yielded a definitive positive result for methamphetamine.

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“Every single gramme of this acid has been safely evacuated, documented and preserved for comprehensive and strict evidential presentation in court, ” he said.

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The NDLEA chairman described the seizure as another major blow to drug syndicates seeking to establish production bases in the South-West region.

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“This is yet another multi-billion-dollar worth of illicit substances and production equipment ready to push millions of doses of synthetic drugs into our streets, our communities and the international community, but for the vigilance of our dedicated officers,” he said.

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Marwa noted that the latest discovery came barely four weeks after the agency dismantled another large methamphetamine laboratory in Ogun State.

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“The proximity of this discovery to the Ogun State lab uncovered about four weeks ago reveals a desperate attempt by drug barons to establish a synthetic drug manufacturing hub in the South-West axis.

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“They thought hiding in dense forests would shield them from the long arm of the law. They were indeed very wrong, “he said.

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He warned drug traffickers and manufacturers against using Nigeria as a base for their operations.

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Marwa said, “Let the message go out clearly to all drug cartels, domestic and international, that Nigeria is not and will never be a safe haven for your illicit trade,” Marwa said.

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“We will find you in the cities, we will track you into the forests, and we will dismantle your infrastructure of death.”

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The NDLEA boss commended officers involved in the operation, particularly personnel of the Oyo State Command, for what he described as their gallantry, dedication and professionalism.

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He also thanked members of the public for providing credible intelligence that aided the operation.

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“To the Nigerian public, we say thank you for your cooperation, for your trust, and credible information. Together, we are securing the future of our nation,” he added.

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The latest operation came barely a month after the NDLEA uncovered another industrial-scale methamphetamine production facility concealed in a forest in the Ijebu area of Ogun State.

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The operation led to the seizure of more than 2.4 tonnes of methamphetamine and other precursor chemicals used in the production of synthetic drugs.

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During the raid, the agency arrested three Mexican nationals identified as Martinez Felix Nemecto, 46; Jesus López Valles, 40; and Torrero Juan Carlos, 51, alongside four Nigerian suspects — Nwankwo Sunday Christian, 41; Igwe Abuchi Remijus, 42; Ifeanyichukwu Chibuike Joshua, 23; and Egwuonwu Uchenna Victor, 38.

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