Nigerian anti-drug agency dismantles international methamphetamine ring with Mexican ties, confiscates nearly half a trillion naira worth of narcotics, apprehends three Mexican nationals

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has successfully dismantled a major Nigerian-Mexican methamphetamine syndicate, resulting in the arrest of a suspected drug baron, three Mexican nationals, and six Nigerian collaborators in coordinated operations spanning Ogun State and Lagos State.

n

This operation led to the discovery of the largest clandestine meth laboratory ever uncovered in Nigeria, strategically hidden in the Abidagba forest within the Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State.

n

NDLEA Chairman, Mohamed Buba Marwa, addressed journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, revealing that the operation was the culmination of months of intelligence gathering and simultaneous raids carried out within a 48-hour timeframe.

n

Marwa proclaimed, "Today, I am proud to announce that the NDLEA has struck another crippling blow to the heart of transnational organized crime," as he highlighted the agency's achievement in dismantling the syndicate.

n

He explained that the operation was executed by the elite operatives of the Special Operations Unit, who successfully dismantled a sophisticated, transnational methamphetamine production syndicate run jointly by a Nigerian drug cartel and their Mexican counterparts.

n

According to Marwa, the forest laboratory was operated by the Anochili Innocent Drug Trafficking Organization, and among those arrested were three Mexican nationals brought into the country specifically to produce the deadly substance, alongside four Nigerian collaborators.

n

The Mexican nationals were identified as Martinez Felix Nemecto, Jesus López Valles, and Torrero Juan Carlos, and were found to be working in conjunction with the Nigerian suspects.

n

NDLEA operatives also arrested the alleged kingpin, Anochili Innocent, at his residence in Lakowe, Lekki, Lagos, where investigators recovered the passports and mobile phones of the Mexican suspects.

n

Further operations led to the arrest of two additional Nigerian suspects, bringing the total number of people in custody to 10, as the agency continued to crack down on the syndicate.

n

Marwa revealed that the agency recovered 2,419.48 kilograms of methamphetamine and precursor chemicals valued at $362.9 million, equivalent to more than N480 billion, in what was described as a massive haul.

n

The operation yielded a significant amount of chemical materials, including highly toxic, volatile, and crystallized methamphetamine worth $362,922,000.00 in the international market, which translates to over N480,000,000,000.00.

n

Warning drug traffickers, Marwa declared, "Let it be known that 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."

n

He urged Nigerians to report suspicious activities, noting that the laboratory had been disguised as an ordinary farm, and emphasized the importance of community involvement in the fight against drug trafficking.

n

Marwa concluded by stating, "This war is for the soul of our nation, and we will not back down until we achieve a drug-free Nigeria," as he reaffirmed the agency's commitment to eradicating the scourge of drug trafficking.