NDLEA uncovers drug lab in Oyo forest, nabs Mexican, 4 others

The operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have uncovered a methamphetamine laboratory operated by a Nigerian-Mexican cartel deep within the forest of Tapa Village in Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo State.

This comes barely four weeks after the NDLEA dismantled a similar meth laboratory in a forest in Ijebu East, Ogun State.

Speaking on the development at the NDLEA Headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (rtd), commended the officers involved in the operation carried out on June 17, 2026.

Marwa, who was represented by the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed that the NDLEA operatives arrested five key members of the cartel on-site.

Marwa listed those arrested to include a 56-year-old Mexican Methamphetamine expert, Jose Villa Ochoa, who was brought in specifically to provide the technical expertise for large-scale synthesis, and four Nigerian collaborators providing logistical support, cover, and local operations.

The Nigerians are Maxwell Uche Nevoh, 30; 37-year-old Olatunji Yusuf; Bankole Akeem Owolabi, 45; and ⁠43-year-old Ganiu Monsiu.

The NDLEA boss added: “Following the successful raid, a specialised team from our Directorate of Forensic and Chemical Monitoring moved in on June 18th, 2026, to conduct a rigorous forensic examination of the facility. What they uncovered is a massive, factory-level production line of poison.

“The laboratory was fully stocked with a frightening array of precursor chemicals, industrial catalysts, and heavy-duty processing equipment. Chemicals and Materials recovered include: Phenyl-2-propanone (P2P), which is the main, highly controlled precursor required for methamphetamine synthesis; 1800-litre drums containing Phenylacetic acid (the primary precursor used to synthesize P2P); Two 180L drums containing a staggering 300 litres of whitish crystalline substance; Four 180L drums containing dark liquid undergoing synthesis.

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“Others include 101 bags (25kg each) of Caustic Soda; 17 containers (25L each) of Sulphuric Acid; 19.5 containers (25kg each) of Tartaric Acid; 5 containers of Reniso Ultracool 68 (three 50L and two 25L capacity; 25 bottles (500ml each) of 80% Thioglycolic Acid; 2 containers (25L each) of Ethyl Phenylacetate, and 25 cartons of aluminum foil.

“The Industrial Processing Equipment discovered at the site include one Reactor Pot, which is the heart of the chemical synthesis; two mounted distillation units; and three fabricated mixers and condensers; as well as two vegetable dehydrator machines used for the rapid drying of the crystals.

“As a result, immediate field tests were conducted by our forensic experts. Samples of the finished crystals recovered yielded a definitive positive result for Methamphetamine. Furthermore, the crystalline substance from the 180L drum tested positive for Phenylacetic acid. Every single gram of these exhibits has been safely evacuated, documented, and preserved for comprehensive and strict evidential presentation in court.

“This is yet another multibillion-naira worth of illicit substances and production equipment ready to push millions of doses of synthetic drugs into our streets, communities and the international community but for the vigilance of our dedicated officers.”

Marwa noted that the proximity of the latest discovery to the Ogun State lab uncovered about four weeks ago reveals a desperate attempt by drug barons to establish a synthetic drug manufacturing hub in the South-West region, adding that the cartels thought hiding in dense forests would shield them from the long arm of the law but were wrong.