NDLEA finds large meth lab in Oyo forest

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has discovered another massive methamphetamine lab hidden in a forest in Oyo State. This comes just four weeks after they shut down a similar lab in Ogun State.

This situation raises new worries about drug cartels trying to make South-west Nigeria a center for synthetic drug production.

The agency reported that five people were arrested, including a Mexican man who is an expert in making methamphetamine. The operation took place in Tapa Village, Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo State.

This new find follows the NDLEA's recent discovery of a large secret meth lab in a forest in Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State. The agency believes this shows a pattern of drug traffickers moving their operations to remote areas to avoid being caught.

Methamphetamine is a very addictive synthetic drug linked to serious health issues. These include psychosis, heart problems, and brain disorders.

At a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, NDLEA Chairman Mohamed Marwa, represented by Femi Babafemi, the agency's Director of Media and Advocacy, described the Oyo lab as a highly advanced operation.

"This was not a basic setup; it was a highly organized transnational group," Mr Marwa said.

The agency said their operatives raided the facility on June 17 after gathering information and watching the site.

Among the arrested was 56-year-old Jose Villa Ochoa, the Mexican man brought in for his technical skills in large-scale meth production. The others arrested include Maxwell Uche Nevoh, 30; Olatunji Yusuf, 37; Bankole Akeem Owolabi, 45; and Ganiu Monsiu, 43.

Mr Marwa stated that having a foreign expert in meth production shows the international side of this crime.

"The arrest of a foreign cartel member in Nigeria shows the global nature of this issue," he said.

Recoveries

After the raid, NDLEA's forensic and chemical experts carefully examined the lab. They found a large number of chemicals and equipment used to make methamphetamine.

The recovered items included drums of phenylacetic acid, phenyl-2-propanone (P2P), sulfuric acid, caustic soda, and other chemicals used in making meth. They also found reactor pots, distillation units, mixers, and drying machines.

NDLEA said preliminary tests confirmed the presence of methamphetamine and other related substances at the site. Mr Marwa called the operation a "factory-level production line" that could produce large amounts of illegal drugs.

"This is yet another multibillion-naira worth of illegal drugs and equipment that could have flooded our streets and communities, but for the hard work of our officers," he said.

South-west becoming a preferred hub

The agency warned that discovering two large meth labs in a month shows a growing trend by drug cartels to set up production sites in the South-west.

Mr Marwa believes that these criminals thought hiding their labs in remote forests would keep them safe from law enforcement.

"The closeness of this find to the Ogun State lab found about four weeks ago shows drug traffickers are trying hard to make the South-west a center for synthetic drug production," he said.

"They thought that dense forests would protect them from the law. They were wrong."

Nigeria has become a target for international drug trafficking rings that produce and export synthetic drugs. This has led to stronger enforcement actions by NDLEA in recent years.

The agency said all items taken from the Oyo lab have been documented and preserved for legal action.

Mr Marwa praised the officers involved in the operation and encouraged the public to continue sharing useful information to help fight drug trafficking.

"We will find you in the cities. We will track you into the forests. We will tear down your operations of death," he warned.