The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arraigned an alleged drug kingpin, 63-year-old Anochili Innocent, alongside three Mexican nationals and six other Nigerians before the Federal High Court in Lagos over an alleged N480 billion methamphetamine manufacturing operation uncovered in Ogun State.
The defendants were brought before Justice Musa Kakaki on Friday on an 11-count charge bordering on conspiracy, operating a clandestine drug laboratory, unlawful production and possession of methamphetamine, and financing a drug trafficking organisation.
Those arraigned include Anochili Innocent; Mexican nationals Juan Carlos Meza Torrero, Nemecio Martinez Felix and Jesus López Valles; as well as Nwankwo Sunday Christian, Egwuonwu Uchenna Victor, Igwe Abuchi Remijus, Ifeanyichukwu Chibuike Joshua, Omonughwa Kingsley Orike and Nwobum Emeka.
According to the NDLEA, the suspects were arrested during coordinated operations in Ogun and Lagos states between May 16 and 18, 2026, following the discovery of a super clandestine methamphetamine laboratory hidden deep inside a forest in Mowe, Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State.
The agency said the laboratory was allegedly used to produce 2,419.48 kilograms of methamphetamine valued at over N480 billion in the international illicit drug market.
Investigators also recovered large quantities of precursor chemicals, including 358 kilograms of toluene, 1,834 kilograms of hydrochloric acid, 22.5 kilograms of acetone, as well as phenyl-2-propane (P2P) and phenyl acetic acid, believed to have been used in the production process.
NDLEA disclosed that while seven suspects, including the three Mexican nationals described as methamphetamine experts, were arrested at the forest laboratory, the alleged cartel leader, Anochili, was apprehended at his residence in the Golf Estate area of Lakowe, Lekki, Lagos.
Further operations led operatives to another property linked to Anochili at Mayfair Estate, Lakowe, where another suspect, Kingsley Orike Omonughwa, was arrested. Investigators subsequently raided the residence of Emeka Nwobum, said to have served as the syndicate’s strategic stash house.
The charge sheet accused the defendants of conspiring to establish and operate a clandestine laboratory for the production of methamphetamine between February and May 16, 2026, contrary to the NDLEA Act. They were also charged with managing and financing a drug trafficking organisation, transporting precursor chemicals from Lagos to the Ogun laboratory, and unlawful possession of the finished narcotics and chemical substances.
Anochili faces an additional charge for allegedly permitting his property to be used for the production of illicit drugs.
All ten defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Although the prosecution opened its case and called seven witnesses, the defence requested more time to prepare after objecting to the commencement of trial. Justice Kakaki consequently ordered that the defendants be remanded in the Lagos Correctional Centre and adjourned the matter to July 16 and July 22, 2026, for trial and hearing of their bail applications.
Reacting to the arraignment, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), described the case as one of the most significant crackdowns on industrial-scale drug production in Nigeria.
Marwa said the involvement of Mexican nationals highlighted the growing efforts by international drug cartels to establish manufacturing bases in Nigeria for global trafficking operations.
He reaffirmed the agency’s resolve to dismantle drug syndicates and urged Nigerians to continue providing credible intelligence to support anti-narcotics operations across the country.
