Nigeria’s anti-drug agency says it has dismantled a methamphetamine production syndicate in what officials describe as the country’s largest drugs seizure of its kind.
Drugs and precursor chemicals valued at around $363 million were recovered, while 10 suspects were arrested, including three Mexican nationals.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said officers seized around 2.4 tonnes of methamphetamine and precursor chemicals during the 48-hour operation, which followed months of intelligence gathering. The total haul, valued at approximately $363 million, is being described by officials as the largest of its kind in the country.
The NDLEA said seven suspects were arrested at the forest-based facility, including three Mexican nationals described by the agency as meth “cooks”. In total, 10 suspects have now been detained following follow-up operations.
According to the agency, the group was operating a sophisticated production setup capable of manufacturing large volumes of synthetic drugs, with materials and equipment suggesting an organised supply chain.
The agency said the alleged leader of the network, identified as Anochili Innocent, a Nigerian national, was arrested at his residence in Lagos following the initial raid.
NDLEA chief Mohamed Buba Marwa said the operation, which lasted 48 hours, was the result of sustained intelligence work and coordination across multiple units.
Marwa said the investigation pointed to a broader trend of drug trafficking organisations bringing in foreign “technical expertise” to establish production bases within Nigeria.
Officials say this reflects a shift in tactics by international cartels, which are increasingly moving beyond trafficking routes to establish local manufacturing hubs in West Africa.
Nigeria has become an increasingly important transit and production point in the global illegal drugs trade, driven in part by porous borders and expanding trafficking networks with links to Latin America.
The NDLEA said the scale of the seizure highlights the growing sophistication of synthetic drug operations in the region.
Marwa said the agency would intensify its crackdown on both local and transnational drug networks, as authorities attempt to curb what they describe as an evolving and expanding illicit drugs economy.
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