Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have uncovered what is believed to be one of the largest clandestine methamphetamine laboratories ever discovered in the country, hidden deep inside Abidagba Forest in Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State.
The operation, carried out on May 16, 2026, also led to the arrest of three Mexican nationals and seven Nigerians allegedly linked to an international methamphetamine production syndicate with an estimated street value of over ₦480 billion.
According to the NDLEA, the raid uncovered over 2,419.48 kilograms of methamphetamine, including crystallised and liquid variants, alongside large volumes of precursor chemicals, industrial solvents and laboratory equipment used for large-scale drug production.
The agency identified the alleged kingpin as Anochili Innocent, said to be the coordinator of what investigators described as the “Anochili Innocent Drug Trafficking Organisation.”
NDLEA operatives reportedly arrested Innocent during a simultaneous raid at a luxury property located at No. 8 Tafawa Balewa Street, Golf Estate, Lakowe, Lekki, in Lagos.
Authorities said passports belonging to the Mexican suspects, mobile devices and other incriminating materials linking him to the operation were recovered from the residence.
The three Mexican nationals arrested during the operation were identified as Martinez Felix Nemecto, 46; Jesus López Valles, 40; and Torrero Juan Carlos, 51.
Investigators believe the foreigners acted as specialist methamphetamine “cooks” brought into Nigeria to oversee industrial-scale production of the synthetic drug.
Another suspect, Kingsley Orike Omonughwa, 44, was later arrested during a follow-up operation at House 70, Close 3, Mayfair Estate, Lekki, while another property allegedly linked to syndicate member Emeka Nwobum was identified as a strategic storage facility for the network.
In total, 10 suspects were arrested in connection with the operation.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), described the discovery as a major breakthrough in Nigeria’s fight against organised narcotics crime.
Security analysts say the development signals a dangerous shift in Nigeria’s role within the global narcotics trade — from being largely a transit corridor to becoming a manufacturing base for synthetic drugs.
The discovery of a fully operational meth laboratory inside a remote forest, combined with the use of upscale urban properties in Lekki as coordination centres, has raised fresh concerns about the growing collaboration between local criminal networks and foreign drug cartels.
The NDLEA said investigations are ongoing to uncover additional collaborators, financial backers and international links connected to the syndicate.
