National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has uncovered a large methamphetamine laboratory hidden inside a forest in Ogun State, with three Mexican nationals among those arrested during the operation.
Gatekeepers News reports that the agency said the clandestine facility was located in Abidagba forest in Ijebu East local government area of the state and was allegedly operated by a Nigerian-Mexican drug syndicate.
NDLEA chairman, Buba Marwa, said the operation followed months of intelligence gathering and coordinated raids carried out across Ogun and Lagos states within 48 hours.
The arrested Mexican suspects were identified as Martinez Felix Nemecto, Jesus López Valles, and Torrero Juan Carlos. Several Nigerian suspects were also apprehended during the raids.
According to the agency, operatives recovered about 2,419.48 kilograms of methamphetamine and precursor chemicals used for producing the illicit drug. The seized substances were valued at over N480 billion in the international market.
Marwa described the discovery as one of the largest methamphetamine busts recorded in Nigeria and warned that the country would not become a base for international drug trafficking networks.
