The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arraigned an alleged drug kingpin, Anochili Innocent, three Mexican nationals and six other Nigerians before the Federal High Court in Lagos over the alleged operation of a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory in Ogun State.
The defendants were brought before Justice Musa Kakaki on Friday on an 11-count charge bordering on conspiracy, operating a drug trafficking organisation, unlawful production of methamphetamine, and possession and transportation of precursor chemicals.
According to the NDLEA, the suspects were arrested during coordinated operations in Ogun and Lagos states between May 16 and 18, 2026. The agency said it dismantled a super methamphetamine laboratory hidden in a forest in Mowe, Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State, where 2,419.48 kilograms of methamphetamine with an estimated international street value of over N480 billion was recovered.
The agency also said large quantities of precursor chemicals, including toluene, hydrochloric acid, acetone, phenyl-2-propanone (P2P) and phenylacetic acid, were seized during the operation.
NDLEA alleged that Anochili, 63, owned the property where the illicit laboratory was located and separately charged him with permitting his premises to be used for the production of illegal drugs.
All 10 defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. Following an application by the defence for more time to prepare, Justice Kakaki ordered that they be remanded in a correctional facility and adjourned the case to July 16 and July 22 for trial and hearing of their bail applications.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), described the case as one of the agency’s biggest breakthroughs against industrial-scale drug production in Nigeria, warning that international drug cartels are increasingly targeting the country as a manufacturing hub for illicit narcotics. He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to dismantling such networks and urged Nigerians to continue providing intelligence to support anti-drug operations.