Nigeria-Mexico Meth Cartel Dismantled

The Nigeria — National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has successfully dismantled a major transnational methamphetamine production syndicate, a joint operation between a Nigerian drug cartel and Mexican collaborators. The operation, led by NDLEA Chairman Mohammed Buba Marwa, resulted in the arrest of 10 suspects, including the alleged kingpin Anochili Innocent, three Mexican nationals (Félix Nemesio Martínez, Jesús López Valles, and Juan Carlos Ferrero) brought in for their expertise, and six Nigerian collaborators. The NDLEA uncovered and shut down the largest clandestine methamphetamine laboratory ever found in Nigeria, hidden in Abidagba forest in Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State. The operation, conducted simultaneously in Ogun and Lagos states, led to the recovery of 2,419.48 kilograms of methamphetamine and precursor chemicals, valued at over N480 billion ($362.9 million) in the international market. This significant seizure represents millions of street doses that would have flooded local and international markets. The NDLEA warned that it would continue to target drug cartels and their collaborators, including those hiring foreign specialists to set up production facilities in rural communities.