Three Mexicans, seven others remanded over N480bn meth lab

Three Mexican nationals and seven other suspects have been remanded in prison by a Federal High Court in Lagos.

The defendants, including a 63-year-old alleged drug baron, Anochili Innocent, were arraigned before Justice Musa Kakaki on Friday on an 11-count charge bordering on conspiracy, unlawful production and possession of methamphetamine valued at N480bn, operation of a drug trafficking organisation and unlawful possession of precursor chemicals.

The three Mexican nationals are “Juan Carlos Meza Torrero (49); Nemecio Martinez Felix (46); and Jesus López Valles (40).”

Other defendants are “Nwankwo Sunday Christian (41); Egwuonwu Uchenna Victor (38); Igwe Abuchi Remijus (43); Ifeanyichukwu Chibuike Joshua (23); Omonughwa Kingsley Orike (45); Nwobum Emeka (59); and Anochili Innocent (63).”

According to a statement issued on Friday by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency spokesman, Femi Babafemi, the suspects were arrested during coordinated operations conducted between May 16 and 18, 2026, in Ogun and Lagos states.

He said operatives first raided a super clandestine laboratory concealed inside a forest in Mowe village, Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State, where seven suspects, including the three Mexican nationals described as methamphetamine experts, were arrested.

Babafemi added that Innocent, identified as the alleged mastermind of the cartel, was simultaneously arrested at his residence in the Golf Estate area of Lakowe, Lekki, Lagos.

He further disclosed that follow-up operations led to the arrest of Orike at another property linked to the alleged kingpin in Lakowe, while Nwobum was arrested at a residence allegedly used as the syndicate’s stash house.

The charge alleged that the defendants conspired between February and May 16, 2026, to establish and operate a clandestine laboratory for the production of methamphetamine, contrary to the provisions of the NDLEA Act.

The prosecution also accused them of managing and financing a drug trafficking organisation, as well as transporting precursor chemicals, including toluene, phenyl-2-propane, phenyl acetic acid, acetone and hydrochloric acid, from Lagos to the laboratory in Ogun State.

According to the charge, the defendants unlawfully produced and possessed 2,419.48 kilograms of methamphetamine, estimated by the agency to be worth over N480bn in the international illicit drug market.

The charge further alleged that investigators recovered 358 kilograms of toluene, 1,834 kilograms of hydrochloric acid, 22.5 kilograms of acetone, as well as quantities of phenyl-2-propane and phenyl acetic acid from the laboratory.

Innocent was separately charged with permitting his property to be used for the production of illicit drugs.

All 10 defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.

Following the plea, the prosecution informed the court that it had served the defence with the proof of evidence on July 3 and called seven witnesses to commence trial.

The defence, however, sought more time to prepare its case.

Justice Kakaki subsequently ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Lagos Correctional Centre and adjourned the matter until July 16 and July 22, 2026, for trial and hearing of their bail applications.

Commenting on the arraignment, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, retired Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa, described the case as one of the agency’s most significant operations against industrial-scale drug production in Nigeria.

Marwa said, “The case represents one of the most significant dismantling of an industrial-scale narcotics production operation on Nigerian soil, underscoring the increasingly transnational character of drug trafficking networks now desperate to exploit Nigeria as a manufacturing base for onward export.

“The presence of Mexican nationals among those arrested and arraigned today speaks to the alarming reach of international drug cartels now attempting to entrench themselves in Nigeria, but the Agency will not relent in tracking down and dismantling every such network, no matter how well concealed or well-financed.”

Marwa reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to dismantling drug trafficking networks across the country and urged members of the public to continue providing credible intelligence to support its operations.