NDLEA uncovers industrial-scale meth laboratory in Oyo forest, arrests Mexican, four others
By: Zagazola Makama
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has uncovered and dismantled an industrial-scale clandestine methamphetamine laboratory hidden in a forest in Oyo State, arresting a Mexican national and four Nigerians allegedly linked to the operation.
The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja through the Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.
Marwa said the facility was discovered in Tapa Village, Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo State during a special operation conducted by NDLEA tactical operatives on June 17.
He described the laboratory as a highly fortified and sophisticated facility operated by a transnational drug cartel with the capacity for large-scale production of methamphetamine.
According to him, operatives arrested five suspected members of the syndicate during the raid, including a 56-year-old Mexican national, Jose Villa Ochoa, believed to have been brought into the country to provide technical expertise for methamphetamine production.
Others arrested were identified as Maxwell Uche Nevoh, 30; Olatunji Yusuf, 37; Bankole Akeem Owolabi, 45; and Ganiu Monsiu, 43.
Marwa said the arrest of the foreign suspect highlighted the growing transnational dimension of illicit drug production and trafficking in Nigeria.
He explained that following the operation, a team from the agency’s Directorate of Forensic and Chemical Monitoring conducted a detailed forensic examination of the site on June 18.
The NDLEA boss said the laboratory was stocked with large quantities of precursor chemicals, industrial catalysts and processing equipment used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.
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Among the items recovered were drums containing Phenylacetic Acid and Phenyl-2-Propanone (P2P), substances commonly used in methamphetamine synthesis, as well as containers of sulphuric acid, tartaric acid, thioglycolic acid and ethyl phenylacetate.
He added that operatives also recovered 101 bags of caustic soda, 25 cartons of aluminium foil and several drums containing substances at different stages of chemical processing.
According to him, industrial equipment recovered from the facility included a reactor pot, mounted distillation units, fabricated mixers and condensers, as well as vegetable dehydrator machines used in drying methamphetamine crystals.
Marwa said field tests conducted by forensic experts confirmed that samples of crystalline substances recovered at the site tested positive for methamphetamine.
He noted that all exhibits had been evacuated and preserved for presentation as evidence in court.
The NDLEA chairman said the latest discovery came barely four weeks after a similar clandestine methamphetamine laboratory was dismantled in a forest in Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State.
He expressed concern that drug cartels appeared to be making attempts to establish a synthetic drug manufacturing network within the South-West region.
“The proximity of these discoveries reveals a desperate attempt by drug barons to establish a synthetic drug manufacturing hub in the South-West axis of the country.
“They thought hiding in dense forests would shield them from the long arm of the law, but they were wrong,” he said.
Marwa warned local and international drug syndicates that Nigeria would not serve as a safe haven for illicit drug production and trafficking.
“We will find you in the cities, we will track you into the forests, and we will dismantle your infrastructure of death,” he said.
He commended officers of the Oyo State Command involved in the operation for their professionalism and dedication and urged members of the public to continue providing credible information to security agencies.
Marwa also reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to combating illicit drug production, trafficking and abuse across the country.
