By Suleiman Anyalewechi
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, on Wednesday May 20, 2026, announced the seizure of illicit drug and chemical substances worth over N480 Billion.
The agency said that ten suspects, including three Mexican nationals have been arrested in connection with what it described as the interception of one of the highest concentration of production of banned methamphetamine and chemical substances in the country.
At a media briefing in Abuja, the NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Brigadier-General Buba Marwa ( rtd) said the seizure and arrest were recorded during intelligence-driven and coordinated operations carried out across Ogun and Lagos States in the last two days.
According to Marwa, the operations were targeted at the dismantling of a large-scale methamphetamine laboratory located in a remote Abidagba forest in Ijebu East Local Council of Ogun State.
“Barely two weeks ago, we announced the successful takedown of a high-profile Drug Trafficking Organization, DTO, headed by Simon Amadi in a complex, multi-country operation involving the US Drug Enforcement Administration, the Swiss, French, and the Greek law enforcement agencies.
“Today, I am proud to announce that the NDLEA has struck another crippling blow to the heart of transnational organised crime.
“Through a clinical, simultaneous operation executed by the elite operatives of our Special Operation Unit, SOU, we have successfully dismantled a sophisticated, transnational methamphetamine production syndicate run jointly by a Nigerian drug cartel and their Mexican counterparts.
“This farm was being used as a massive, highly dangerous clandestine methamphetamine laboratory by the Anochili Innocent Drug Trafficking Organization.
“This network did not just traffic drugs, they were actively manufacturing industrial-scale quantities of highly lethal illicit substances right on our soil, threatening the national security and public health of Nigeria”, Marwa stated.
The NDLEA boss revealed that the discreet and coordinated operation conducted at the forest laboratory of the syndicate on May 16, 2026, resulted in the seizure of 2,419.48 kilograms of methamphetamine and precursor chemicals with a street value of S 362.9 million.
“The operation yielded a massive 2,419.48 kilograms (over 2.4 tons) of chemical materials, including highly toxic, volatile, and crystallized methamphetamine worth $362,922,000.00. in the international market”, he added.
The NDLEA Chairman informed that another operation carried out by a tactical team led to the arrest of the suspected ring-leader of the cartel at his Lekki, Lagos luxury residence.
“Simultaneously, another tactical team closed in on the luxury residence of the cartel’s mastermind, Anochili Innocent, located at No.8 Tafawa Balewa Street ,Golf Estate, Lakowe , Lekki area of Lagos State. The drug baron was cornered and arrested”, he noted
He informed that a search conducted at the palatial mansion of the drug pin led to the recovery of the International passports and other travel documents of the arrested Mexican nationals operating at the Ijebu laboratory.
Other suspects, according to the NDLEA Chairman were arrested at another Lekki property with a warehouse linked to the syndicate also discovered.
Marwa, however, reaffirmed the agency’s unwavering commitment and total readiness in hunting and dismantling drug cartels, and their collaborators across the country.
“We are aware of the shifting tactics of these cartels, including the disturbing trend of hiring South American cartel specialists to set up production factories in our rural communities.
“Let it be known that 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”, the NDLEA Chairman warned.
Discover more from The Source
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
