…Arrests Mexican drug expert, four Nigerians

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have dealt a major blow to an international drug trafficking syndicate with the discovery and dismantling of a fortified, industrial-scale methamphetamine laboratory hidden deep inside a forest in Tapa Village, Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The operation led to the arrest of a 56-year-old Mexican methamphetamine expert and four Nigerian collaborators, while multi-billion-naira worth of illicit substances, precursor chemicals and sophisticated drug-manufacturing equipment were recovered.

The latest discovery comes barely four weeks after the agency dismantled another large-scale meth laboratory concealed in a forest in Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State, reinforcing concerns that drug cartels are attempting to establish the South-West as a major hub for synthetic drug production.

Addressing journalists at the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, the agency’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), represented by the Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, described the operation as a significant victory against transnational organised crime.

According to Marwa, tactical operatives stormed the heavily fortified facility on June 17 after weeks of intelligence gathering.

“This was not a crude or makeshift operation. It was a sophisticated, factory-scale methamphetamine production centre run by a highly organised transnational criminal syndicate,” he said.

Those arrested include Mexican national Jose Villa Ochoa, who investigators said was brought into Nigeria to provide technical expertise for large-scale methamphetamine production.

The other suspects were identified as Maxwell Uche Nevoh, 30; Olatunji Yusuf, 37; Bankole Akeem Owolabi, 45; and Ganiu Monsiu, 43, all Nigerians allegedly responsible for logistics and local operations.

Marwa said the arrest of a foreign drug specialist on Nigerian soil underscores the growing international dimension of illicit drug production in the country.

“The arrest demonstrates not only the transnational nature of the threat but also the growing intelligence and operational capacity of the NDLEA to identify, infiltrate and dismantle sophisticated criminal networks,” he said.

Following the raid, forensic experts from the agency’s Directorate of Forensic and Chemical Monitoring examined the site and uncovered what officials described as a fully operational industrial production line.

Recovered from the laboratory were massive quantities of precursor chemicals and production materials, including Phenyl-2-propanone (P2P), phenylacetic acid, caustic soda, sulphuric acid, tartaric acid, thioglycolic acid, ethyl phenylacetate and aluminium foil.

The agency also recovered large drums containing chemicals at different stages of synthesis, along with industrial-grade processing equipment such as a reactor pot, mounted distillation units, condensers, fabricated mixers and vegetable dehydrators used to dry methamphetamine crystals.

According to Marwa, field tests conducted by NDLEA forensic experts confirmed that the recovered crystalline substances tested positive for methamphetamine, while other samples tested positive for phenylacetic acid, a key precursor used in the manufacture of the illicit drug.

He noted that all exhibits had been secured and documented for prosecution.

Marwa warned that the discovery of two industrial meth laboratories in the South-West within one month points to a deliberate attempt by international drug cartels to establish a synthetic drug manufacturing base in the region.

“The proximity of these discoveries reveals a desperate attempt by drug barons to turn the South-West into a synthetic drug production hub. They believed that hiding inside dense forests would shield them from law enforcement. They were mistaken,” he said.

Issuing a stern warning to drug traffickers, Marwa declared: “Let it be known to every drug cartel, whether local or international, that Nigeria is not, and will never be, a safe haven for illicit drug production or trafficking. We will find you in the cities, track you into the forests and dismantle your infrastructure of death.”

He commended officers of the NDLEA Oyo State Command for their courage, professionalism and commitment during the operation and thanked members of the public for providing credible intelligence that contributed to the success of the raid.

“Together, we are safeguarding our communities and securing the future of our nation,” he said.