The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arraigned an alleged drug kingpin, three Mexican nationals and six other suspects over what it calls one of the largest clandestine methamphetamine production facilities ever uncovered in Nigeria, with drugs valued at more than N480 billion on the international market.
The 10 defendants appeared before Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court in Lagos on an 11 count charge covering conspiracy, operating a super clandestine laboratory, producing methamphetamine, unlawful possession of precursor chemicals and running a drug trafficking organisation. Named alongside alleged cartel leader Anochili Innocent, 63, are Mexican nationals Juan Carlos Meza Torrero, 49, Nemecio Martinez Felix, 46, and Jesus Lopez Valles, 40, along with six Nigerian collaborators. According to the NDLEA, the suspects were arrested during coordinated operations between May 16 and 18, 2026, following the discovery of a sophisticated methamphetamine factory hidden deep in a forest in Mowe, Ijebu East local government area of Ogun State, where investigators allege the syndicate ran an industrial scale laboratory between February and May, manufacturing 2,419.48 kilograms of methamphetamine bound for the international illicit drug market.
The agency recovered large quantities of precursor chemicals from the site, including 1,834 kilograms of hydrochloric acid, 358 kilograms of toluene, 22.5 kilograms of acetone, along with phenyl 2 propane and phenyl acetic acid used in meth production. Anochili was arrested at his luxury residence in the Lakowe area of Lekki, Lagos, with subsequent raids leading to the arrest of two more syndicate members at separate properties linked to the operation. Prosecutors accuse the defendants of establishing and financing a criminal drug trafficking organisation and transporting precursor chemicals from Lagos to the Ogun forest laboratory using multiple vehicles, with Anochili facing an additional charge of permitting his property to be used for manufacturing illicit drugs. All 10 defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read, and although prosecutors were ready to open their case, having already called seven witnesses and served proof of evidence on the defence, defence counsel requested more time to prepare. Justice Kakaki ordered all defendants remanded at the Lagos Correctional Centre and adjourned proceedings to July 16 and 22 for trial and bail hearings. NDLEA Chairman Mohamed Buba Marwa called the case one of the most significant blows ever dealt to industrial scale narcotics production in Nigeria, saying the involvement of Mexican nationals highlights growing efforts by international drug cartels to establish Nigeria as a manufacturing hub for methamphetamine destined for global markets. The presence of Mexican nationals among those arrested and arraigned speaks to the alarming reach of international cartels now attempting to entrench themselves in Nigeria, Marwa said, but the agency will not relent in tracking down and dismantling every such network, no matter how well concealed or well financed, urging Nigerians to keep providing intelligence to support ongoing anti drug operations nationwide
