ABUJA — The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has dismantled what it describes as Nigeria’s largest clandestine methamphetamine laboratory. The lab was hidden deep inside Abidagba forest in Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State. The operation led to the arrest of 10 suspects, including three Mexican nationals, and the seizure of drugs valued at N480 billion.
NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa announced the operation at a media briefing in Abuja on Wednesday. He said the syndicate was led by a Nigerian identified as Anochili Innocent. Three Mexican methamphetamine experts were brought in to run the laboratory, which produced industrial-scale quantities of the drug.
The coordinated operation took place on May 16, 2026. NDLEA Special Operations Unit operatives stormed the Ogun forest laboratory and the Lekki residence of the alleged kingpin simultaneously. Seven suspects were arrested at the Ogun site. Anochili Innocent was taken at his Golf Estate, Lakowe, Lagos home.
Marwa said the seized drugs had an international street value of approximately $362.9 million. The haul included 2,419.48 kilogrammes of crystallised and liquid methamphetamine, precursor chemicals, and industrial solvents.
The Scale of the Operation
The Abidagba forest laboratory was not a small setup. NDLEA said it was an industrial-scale production facility capable of supplying methamphetamine to markets across West Africa, Europe, and Asia. Investigators believe the syndicate had been operating for at least 18 months before it was detected.
Follow-up operations on May 18 led to the arrest of a tenth suspect at a separate property in Mayfair Estate, Lakowe. The agency also raided a strategic stash house linked to another cartel member, Emeka Nwobum. Additional evidence was recovered at both locations.
Furthermore, President Tinubu congratulated NDLEA for the breakthrough. He described the operation as a landmark success in Nigeria’s fight against organised crime. “I commend your bravery, resilience, and dedication,” Tinubu said in a statement issued by the State House.
Nigeria’s Meth Problem
The discovery of a domestic methamphetamine production operation marks a disturbing escalation. Nigeria had previously been known primarily as a transit country for drugs produced elsewhere. A homegrown industrial meth laboratory signals that criminal networks are now manufacturing drugs on Nigerian soil for export.
NDLEA said the syndicate was not only trafficking drugs but actively investing in production infrastructure inside Nigeria. Marwa warned that this trend poses a serious threat to public health and national security. He said the agency will continue to pursue all leads from the current investigation.
In 2026, NDLEA has recorded 974 drug-related convictions, including 11 major kingpins sentenced to a combined 254 years in prison. International partners including the US Drug Enforcement Administration and Interpol provided intelligence support for the Ogun operation.
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