NDLEA Arraigns Alleged Drug Baron, Three Mexicans, Six Others Over N480bn Meth Laboratory

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has arraigned an alleged drug baron, Anochili Innocent, three Mexican nationals and six other Nigerians before the Federal High Court in Lagos over the alleged operation of a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory in Ogun State.

The defendants appeared before Justice Musa Kakaki on an 11 count charge bordering on conspiracy, unlawful production of methamphetamine, drug trafficking and possession of precursor chemicals.

According to the NDLEA, the suspects were arrested in coordinated operations carried out between May 16 and 18, 2026, in Ogun and Lagos States.

The agency alleged that the syndicate established a secret drug laboratory hidden in Mowe Forest, Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State, where 2,419.48 kilograms of methamphetamine with an estimated international street value of over N480 billion was produced.

The three Mexican nationals were identified as Juan Carlos Meza Torrero, Nemecio Martinez Felix and Jesus López Valles, while Anochili Innocent was described as the alleged mastermind of the operation.

The NDLEA also alleged that the suspects unlawfully transported and possessed large quantities of precursor chemicals, including toluene, hydrochloric acid, acetone, phenyl 2 propane and phenyl acetic acid, used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.

All ten defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Following objections by the defence seeking more time to prepare, Justice Kakaki ordered that the defendants be remanded in the Nigerian Correctional Service custody and adjourned the case to July 16 and July 22, 2026, for trial and hearing of their bail applications.

Reacting to the arraignment, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), described the case as one of the most significant breakthroughs against industrial scale drug production in Nigeria.

He said the involvement of Mexican nationals highlights the growing attempt by international drug cartels to use Nigeria as a manufacturing base, assuring that the agency will continue to dismantle such criminal networks and prosecute all those involved.