The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has charged a 63-year-old man, Anochili Innocent, three Mexican men, and six other Nigerians at the Federal High Court in Lagos. They are accused of setting up a secret methamphetamine lab and making illegal drugs worth over N480bn.
The defendants faced Justice Musa Kakaki on Friday. They face 11 charges, including conspiracy, illegal production and possession of methamphetamine, running a drug trafficking organization, and illegal possession of chemicals needed for making drugs.
The three Mexican men are Juan Carlos Meza Torrero, 49; Nemecio Martinez Felix, 46; and Jesus López Valles, 40.
The other Nigerians charged are 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 spokesman, Femi Babafemi, said the suspects were caught during operations from May 16 to 18, 2026, in Ogun and Lagos states. Babafemi noted that the first raid took place in a hidden lab in Mowe village, Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State, where they arrested seven suspects.
He explained that Innocent, seen as the leader of the group, was arrested at his home in Golf Estate, Lekki, Lagos. Follow-up operations led to the arrest of Kingsley Orike Omonughwa at another property linked to Innocent, while Emeka Nwobum was caught at a house used as their storage location.
The charges claim that from February to May 16, 2026, the defendants worked together to run a secret lab for methamphetamine production, breaking the NDLEA Act.
They are also accused of managing and funding a drug trafficking organization. They allegedly transported chemicals like toluene, phenyl-2-propane, phenyl acetic acid, acetone, and hydrochloric acid from Lagos to the Ogun lab.
The defendants reportedly produced and held 2,419.48 kilograms of methamphetamine, valued at over N480bn in the international drug market. Investigators say they recovered 358 kilograms of toluene, 1,834 kilograms of hydrochloric acid, 22.5 kilograms of acetone, and other chemicals from the lab.
Innocent faces an additional charge for allowing his property to be used for making illegal drugs. All ten defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read.
After their plea, the prosecution told the court that they had given the defense the proof of evidence on July 3. They also called seven witnesses to start the trial. The defense asked for more time to prepare.
Justice Kakaki ordered that the defendants be held at the Lagos Correctional Centre and postponed the case until July 16 and July 22, 2026, for trial and discussions on their bail requests.
In a statement about the arraignment, NDLEA Chairman and CEO, retired Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa, called this case one of the agency's biggest actions against large-scale drug production in Nigeria. Marwa said, "The case represents one of the most significant dismantling of an industrial-scale narcotics production operation on Nigerian soil."
He added, "The presence of Mexican nationals among those arrested shows the alarming reach of international drug cartels trying to set up in Nigeria. But the Agency will not stop until we track down and dismantle every network, no matter how hidden or well-funded."
Marwa confirmed the agency's commitment to breaking down drug trafficking networks in Nigeria. He urged the public to keep giving useful information to support their work.
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