Written by
Ishioma Appiah-Yeboah
What looked like an ordinary stretch of forest in Ogun State allegedly concealed one of Nigeria’s largest illegal drug manufacturing facilities.
Now, a 63-year-old suspected drug baron, three Mexican nationals and six other alleged members of an international drug syndicate are standing trial over what the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) describes as a ₦480 billion methamphetamine operation.
The suspects were arraigned on Friday before Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court in Lagos on an 11-count charge bordering on conspiracy, operation of a clandestine drug laboratory, unlawful production and possession of methamphetamine, and managing a drug trafficking organisation.
The defendants include alleged kingpin Anochili Innocent, 63, alongside Mexican nationals Juan Carlos Meza Torrero, Nemecio Martinez Felix and Jesus López Valles, as well as six Nigerians.
According to a statement by the Director, Media and Advocacy NDLEA Headquarters, Femi Babafemi, the arrests followed coordinated intelligence-led operations carried out between May 16 and 18, 2026, in Ogun and Lagos states.
The statement stated that the NDLEA operatives uncovered a sophisticated methamphetamine laboratory hidden deep inside Mowe Forest in Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State, where they recovered 2,419.48 kilograms of methamphetamine with an estimated international street value of more than ₦480 billion.
Investigators alleged that the three Mexican suspects served as methamphetamine production experts, while Anochili coordinated the cartel’s operations from his luxury residence in the Lakowe area of Lekki, Lagos.
Further raids reportedly led officers to other properties linked to the syndicate, including an alleged stash house where additional suspects were arrested.
Court documents filed by the NDLEA accused the defendants of establishing and financing an industrial-scale drug production facility and transporting precursor chemicals; including toluene, phenyl-2-propane (P2P), phenyl acetic acid, acetone and hydrochloric acid from Lagos to the Ogun forest laboratory.
The prosecution also alleged that investigators recovered hundreds of kilograms of chemicals used in manufacturing methamphetamine, including 358kg of toluene, 1,834kg of hydrochloric acid and 22.5kg of acetone, in addition to quantities of P2P and phenyl acetic acid.
Anochili faces an additional charge for allegedly allowing his property to be used for the production of illicit drugs.
All ten defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read.
Although the NDLEA prosecution indicated it was ready to open its case after serving proof of evidence on the defence, lawyers representing the accused requested more time to prepare.
Justice Kakaki subsequently ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Lagos Correctional Centre and adjourned the case to July 16 and July 22, 2026, for trial and hearing of their bail applications.
Reacting to the development, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd.), described the case as one of the most significant dismantlings of an industrial-scale narcotics production network in Nigeria.
He said the involvement of Mexican nationals highlights the growing attempts by international drug cartels to use Nigeria as a manufacturing hub for illicit drugs destined for foreign markets.
“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 said.
The NDLEA boss reaffirmed the agency’s resolve to intensify its crackdown on drug trafficking networks and urged Nigerians to continue providing credible intelligence to support anti-narcotics operations across the country.