NDLEA Arraigns Alleged Drug Kingpin, Three Mexicans, Seven Others Over N480bn Meth Lab in Ogun

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arraigned an alleged drug kingpin, 63-year-old Anochili Innocent, alongside three Mexican nationals and six other Nigerians before the Federal High Court in Lagos over the operation of a massive clandestine methamphetamine laboratory uncovered in Ogun State.

The defendants appeared before Justice Musa Kakaki on Friday on an 11-count charge bordering on conspiracy, establishment of an illegal drug manufacturing facility, production of methamphetamine, and related offences under the NDLEA Act.

The foreign nationals charged are Juan Carlos Meza Torrero, 49; Nemecio Martinez Felix, 46; and Jesus López Valles, 40. The Nigerian co-defendants are Nwankwo Sunday Christian, 41; Egwuonwu Uchenna Victor, 38; Igwe Abuchi Remijus, 43; Ifeanyichukwu Chibuike Joshua, 23; Omonughwa Kingsley Orike, 45; and Nwobum Emeka, 59.

According to the NDLEA, the suspects were arrested during coordinated intelligence-led operations conducted between May 16 and 18, 2026, in Ogun and Lagos States.

Investigators said operatives initially raided a heavily concealed methamphetamine laboratory deep inside a forest in Mowe, Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State, where seven suspects, including the three Mexican nationals believed to be methamphetamine production experts, were apprehended.

Simultaneously, NDLEA operatives arrested the alleged mastermind, Anochili, at his residence in Golf Estate, Lakowe, Lekki, Lagos.

Follow-up operations led to the arrest of another alleged syndicate member, Kingsley Orike Omonughwa, at a property in Mayfair Estate, Lakowe, while another suspect, Emeka Nwobum, was also apprehended after investigators traced a property allegedly used as the cartel’s strategic storage facility.

The agency told the court that the syndicate established and operated an industrial-scale methamphetamine laboratory where 2,419.48 kilograms of the illicit drug, valued at more than ₦480 billion on the international market, was produced.

Prosecutors further alleged that the group transported precursor chemicals, including toluene, phenyl-2-propanone (P2P), phenyl acetic acid, acetone and hydrochloric acid, from Lagos to the Ogun laboratory using multiple vehicles.

The charge also listed the recovery of large quantities of precursor chemicals from the laboratory, including 358 kilograms of toluene, 1,834 kilograms of hydrochloric acid, 22.5 kilograms of acetone, as well as quantities of P2P and phenyl acetic acid.