The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arraigned alleged drug kingpin Anochili Innocent, three Mexican nationals and six other Nigerians over an alleged N480 billion methamphetamine laboratory hidden inside a forest in Ogun State.
NDLEA brought the 10 defendants before Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday, 10 July 2026. The agency accused them of setting up a super clandestine laboratory at Mowe village in Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State.
The suspects include Anochili Innocent, 63; Juan Carlos Meza Torrero, 49; Nemecio Martinez Felix, 46; Jesus López Valles, 40; Nwankwo Sunday Christian, 41; Egwuonwu Uchenna Victor, 38; Igwe Abuchi Remijus, 43; Ifeanyichukwu Chibuike Joshua, 23; Omonughwa Kingsley Orike, 45; and Nwobum Emeka, 59.
NDLEA said operatives arrested the suspects during coordinated raids across Ogun and Lagos states between 16 and 18 May 2026.
They Agency said officers first raided the hidden laboratory inside the Mowe forest on 16 May. They arrested four Nigerian suspects and the three Mexican nationals, whom the agency described as methamphetamine experts.
At the same time, operatives arrested alleged cartel leader Anochili Innocent at his luxury residence at No. 8 Tafawa Balewa Street, Golf Estate, Lakowe, Lekki, Lagos.
NDLEA said officers returned on 18 May and searched another property linked to Anochili at House 70, Close 3, Mayfair Estate, Lakowe. They arrested Kingsley Orike Omonughwa before moving to the residence of Emeka Nwobum, which investigators identified as the cartel’s stash house.
According to the charge sheet, the defendants conspired between February and 16 May 2026 to establish and operate a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory.
NDLEA said the operation produced 2,419.48 kilograms of methamphetamine valued at more than N480 billion on the international market.
The agency also accused the suspects of managing and financing a drug trafficking organisation. In addition, prosecutors alleged that they transported precursor chemicals, including toluene, phenyl-2-propane (P2P), phenyl acetic acid, acetone and hydrochloric acid, from Lagos to the Ogun laboratory.
NDLEA said the chemicals travelled in a Toyota Tacoma, a Mercedes-Benz with registration number APP 942 YL and a Toyota Highlander marked GWA 662DJ.
Investigators said they recovered 358kg of toluene, 1,834kg of hydrochloric acid, 22.5kg of acetone, as well as quantities of P2P and phenyl acetic acid from the laboratory.
The agency also filed a separate charge against Anochili. Prosecutors alleged that he allowed his property to serve as the site for producing the illicit drug, contrary to the NDLEA Act.
All 10 defendants pleaded not guilty when the court read the charges.
The prosecution immediately called seven witnesses to begin trial.
However, defence lawyers asked for more time despite receiving the proof of evidence on 3 July 2026.
Justice Kakaki remanded all the defendants at the Lagos Correctional Centre. The court adjourned the case to 16 and 22 July 2026 for trial and hearing of their bail applications.
The NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), described the case as one of the biggest crackdowns on an industrial-scale drug production operation in Nigeria.
Marwa said the involvement of three Mexican nationals showed that international drug cartels now seek to use Nigeria as a manufacturing base for illicit drugs meant for export.
He said, “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 NDLEA’s commitment to dismantling drug cartels and urged Nigerians to continue sharing useful intelligence with the agency.
External links
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA): https://ndlea.gov.ng
Federal High Court of Nigeria: https://fhc.gov.ng
National Assembly — NDLEA Act: https://nass.gov.ng
