NDLEA smashes Nigerian-Mexican meth cartel in Ogun, arrests 10 suspects and seizes meth materials worth ₦480 billion from a forest lab.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency says it has smashed a Nigerian-Mexican meth cartel operating from a hidden lab in Ogun State.
The agency said the raid led to the arrest of 10 suspects, including the cartel’s Nigerian kingpin, three Mexican technical experts and six other collaborators.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) announced the operation in Abuja on Wednesday, May 20, 2026.
He said the syndicate had been running a highly sophisticated methamphetamine factory inside a remote forest in Ijebu East Local Government Area.
The operation also exposed a Lagos luxury base used by the cartel leader in Lekki.
How The Raid Happened
Marwa said the raid followed months of intelligence gathering and was carried out over 48 hours by NDLEA’s Special Operations Unit.
The main target was a farm in Abidagba forest, Ijebu East, where operatives found a clandestine meth laboratory.
At the same time, another team moved on the kingpin’s residence at No. 8 Tafawa Balewa Street, Golf Estate, Lakowe, Lekki.
The man identified as Anochili Innocent was arrested there.
NDLEA said a search of the Lagos residence recovered the passports and mobile phones of the three Mexican suspects, linking them to the operation.
The arrested Nigerian suspects were named as Nwankwo Sunday Christian, Igwe Abuchi Remijus, Ifeanyichukwu Chibuike Joshua and Egwuonwu Uchenna Victor.
The Mexican suspects were identified as Martinez Felix Nemecto, Jesus López Valles and Torrero Juan Carlos.
What Was Recovered
NDLEA said follow-up operations on Monday, May 18, led to more arrests in Lagos.
One suspect, Kingsley Orike Omonughwa, was arrested at another property in Mayfair Estate, Lakowe.
Investigators later stormed the residence of another member, Emeka Nwobum, which the agency said had served as a stash house.
Marwa said the operation produced 2,419.48 kilograms of chemical materials, including methamphetamine, precursor chemicals and industrial solvents.
He valued the seizure at $362,922,000 in the international market, which he said equals more than ₦480 billion.
The agency also recovered a Toyota Tacoma used for operations at the lab and a Toyota Highlander from the kingpin’s residence.
Marwa said the quantity seized could have flooded local communities and foreign markets with millions of street doses.
What Marwa Said
The NDLEA boss said the case shows that cartels are now hiring foreign specialists to set up drug factories in rural Nigeria.
“Nigeria is a hostile country for your criminal business,” he warned drug barons.
He also said the agency would continue to chase traffickers wherever they hide, whether in forests or gated estates.
“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 said.
Marwa praised the Special Operations Unit and the Chemical and Forensic Team for what he called their bravery and precision.
He also asked Nigerians to report strange activity, chemical smells and unusual movement in their areas, saying the Ogun forest lab had been operating as a fake farm.
This was one of the NDLEA’s biggest meth seizures in Nigeria and another heavy blow to transnational drug trafficking.
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