The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dismantled another industrial-scale methamphetamine laboratory in Ebonyi State and arrested a suspected Mexican drug kingpin linked to the facility.
The agency, in a statement made available to ASHENEWS on Tuesday, said the breakthrough followed months of investigation into a wider transnational network allegedly involved in establishing clandestine drug laboratories in Nigerian forests and rural communities.
The suspect, identified as 56-year-old Arturo Carrera Loaiza, was arrested on August 19, 2026, while allegedly attempting to leave Nigeria through the Lagos airport.
According to the NDLEA, Loaiza initially claimed that he had been invited into Nigeria by a Nigerian identified as “Henry” for a restaurant business venture and denied any connection with methamphetamine production.
Investigators, however, reportedly recovered photographs showing him dressed in a blue laboratory coat and standing among equipment associated with methamphetamine production.
The NDLEA said analysis of location data embedded in the photographs led investigators to a property under construction at Isiata Ugoni Okposi in Ebonyi State, linked to one John Samuel Ivo Okike.
A search of the property on August 30 uncovered evidence suggesting that a clandestine laboratory had been operated there. Investigators also found a suspicious temporary structure over a septic tank and detected strong chemical odours around the premises.
The agency said CCTV footage recovered from the property provided further evidence, showing Loaiza at the location and Okike directing the movement of chemicals and laboratory equipment from the premises on August 21.
Acting on further intelligence, NDLEA operatives traced the relocated materials to an isolated house in a neighbouring community allegedly under the custody of Nwanja Obasi.
The raid reportedly yielded a substantial quantity of chemicals, equipment and other materials associated with methamphetamine production, including 442.8kg of acetone, 37.1kg of toluene, 31.5kg of hydrochloric acid, 200kg of P2B, 20kg of an acetone/bromobenzene mixture and other precursor chemicals.
The agency also recovered dehydrators, condensers, reaction equipment, pumps, weighing scales, mixers, drums, gas burners and other laboratory paraphernalia. Methamphetamine was reportedly found in a dehydrator.
The investigation was linked to an earlier NDLEA operation in Oyo State, where a Mexican methamphetamine expert and four Nigerian collaborators were arrested at a clandestine laboratory in Tapa village, Ibarapa North Local Government Area, on June 17.
The agency said the Mexican national told investigators that he had been recruited into Nigeria by a Mexican kingpin. Further investigation allegedly led to Loaiza.
Earlier, on May 16, NDLEA operatives had arrested three Mexican nationals and seven Nigerian collaborators at a forest hideout in Ogun State.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (retd.), said the latest operations demonstrated the agency’s growing capacity to disrupt international drug syndicates seeking to establish production bases in Nigeria.
Marwa warned that Nigeria would not be allowed to become a base for transnational drug cartels relocating their operations from other countries.
He commended personnel of the agency’s Special Operations Unit, Strike Force, Forensics and the Oyo, Ogun and Ebonyi commands for their roles in the investigations and operations.
The NDLEA said investigations would continue to identify and prosecute other members, financiers and local collaborators allegedly connected to the network.
