Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court Lagos, yesterday visited the site of an alleged N480 billion clandestine methamphetamine laboratory hidden in a forest in Mowe, Ijebu East Local Council of Ogun State, as the trial of 10 defendants, including three Mexican nationals and seven Nigerians, continued.

Justice Musa Kakaki led the inspection of the alleged crime scene (locus in quo) before adjourning further hearing until Friday, July 24, when arguments on the admissibility of exhibits are expected to continue.

The defendants are Nwankwo Sunday Christian, 41; Igwe Abuchi Remijus, 42; Ifeanyichukwu Chibuike Joshua, 23; Egwuonwu Uchenna Victor, 38; Martinez Felix Nemecto, 46; Jesus López Valles, 40; Torrero Juan Carlos, 51; and three other Nigerian suspects.

They are standing trial on an 11-count charge bordering on the illegal establishment of a super clandestine methamphetamine laboratory and the production of 2,419.48 kilogrammes of methamphetamine allegedly worth about N480 billion.

They have all pleaded not guilty and are being held at the Lagos Correctional Centre.

The court’s visit followed testimony by the first prosecution witness and clandestine laboratory expert, Mr Ajilema Anebi, who had earlier told the court that the chemicals and equipment recovered from the facility were used to produce and store large quantities of methamphetamine for export.

During the inspection, Anebi took the judge, prosecution and defence teams through different sections of the facility, explaining the functions of the equipment, chemicals and installations allegedly used in the manufacture of the illicit drug.

The prosecution sought to tender some of the recovered materials as exhibits. However, the defence counsel, Benson Ndakara raised an objection, insisting that the court had only been shown chemicals and the production process, not the finished methamphetamine allegedly linked to the defendants.

During earlier proceedings, the prosecution maintained that the substances had been scientifically analysed and identified by its forensic team, while the defence argued that the witness should specifically identify each item before the court.

Anebi also testified on the use of alcohol, hydrochloric acid and other chemicals in the production process.

Speaking after the inspection, Head of the NDLEA Prosecution Team, Adekunle Adebajo, said the visit was meant to enable the court to examine the alleged crime scene and the items the prosecution intended to rely upon.

He said the defence objected to the admission of some exhibits, adding that the court would determine their admissibility during the next sitting.

Also reacting, the Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd), represented by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, described the discovery as a major breakthrough in the fight against illicit drug production.

According to him, the volume of chemicals and equipment recovered posed a serious threat to public health and national security.

Babafemi said intelligence indicated that international drug cartels were attempting to establish methamphetamine production hubs in Nigeria, particularly in the South-West, by concealing laboratories deep inside forests.

He assured that the NDLEA would continue dismantling such facilities to prevent dangerous drugs from reaching communities in Nigeria and beyond.

Justice Kakaki subsequently adjourned the case to Friday for the continuation of trial and arguments on the remaining exhibits.