Court sends 3 Mexicans, 7 others to prison over N480bn drugs recovered in Ogun forest

The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has remanded a 63-year-old drug baron, Anochili Innocent, three Mexican nationals, and six other Nigerians over alleged drug dealing.

The defendants were remanded on Friday, July 10, 2026, following their arraignment on an 11-count criminal charge bordering on the setting up of a super clandestine laboratory and the production of 2,419.48 kilograms of methamphetamine worth over N480 billion in the international market at Mowe village, Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State.

They were arrested by the operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in coordinated raids in Ogun and Lagos States.

The defendants include Anochili Innocent, 63; Juan Carlos Meza Torrero, 49; Nemecio Martinez Felix, 46; Jesus López Valles, 40, all Mexican nationals except Anochili; Nwankwo Sunday Christian, 41; Egwuonwu Uchenna Victor, 38; Igwe Abuchi Remijus, 43; Ifeanyichukwu Chibuike Joshua, 23; Omonughwa Kingsley Orike, 45; and Nwobum Emeka, 59.

The 11-count charge, filed by the NDLEA prosecution team, accuses the defendants of conspiring, between February and May 2026, to establish a clandestine laboratory for the preparation, processing, and production of methamphetamine, in violation of Section 14(b) of the NDLEA Act.

NDLEA busts Nigerian-Mexican meth cartel, seizes N480bn drugs in Ogun

Other counts include managing, organizing, and financing a drug trafficking organisation contrary to Section 20(1)(g); unlawfully transporting precursor chemicals, including toluene, phenyl-2-propane (P2P), phenyl acetic acid, acetone and hydrochloric acid, from Lagos to the Mowe laboratory using a Toyota Tacoma, a Mercedes Benz marked APP 942 YL and a Toyota Highlander marked GWA 662DJ, contrary to Section 20(1)(f); and the unlawful production and possession of the 2,419.48kg haul of methamphetamine, contrary to Sections 11(a) and 19 of the Act respectively.

All ten defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to them.

The prosecution thereafter called seven witnesses to commence trial, having served the defence the proof of evidence.

The presiding judge, Justice Musa Kakaki, consequently ordered that the defendants be remanded in the correctional centre in Lagos.

Justice Kakaki adjourned the case adjourned to July 16 and 22 for the continuation of trial and hearing of the bail application.