Mexican, 4 others nabbed as NDLEA uncovers meth lab in Oyo forest
peratives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have uncovered and dismantled an industrial-scale clandestine methamphetamine laboratory in a forest at Tapa Village, Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo State, arresting a Mexican national and four Nigerians linked to the operation. The agency said the facility, allegedly operated by a Nigerian-Mexican drug cartel, […]
Suspects arrested by NDLEA
peratives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have uncovered and dismantled an industrial-scale clandestine methamphetamine laboratory in a forest at Tapa Village, Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo State, arresting a Mexican national and four Nigerians linked to the operation.
The agency said the facility, allegedly operated by a Nigerian-Mexican drug cartel, was discovered during a raid conducted on June 17, 2026.
The breakthrough comes barely four weeks after the agency dismantled a similar massive meth laboratory in a forest in Ijebu East, Ogun State.
Speaking at a press briefing at the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), represented by the Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said five suspects were arrested at the site.
According to him, the suspects include 56-year-old Mexican national, Jose Villa Ochoa, described as a methamphetamine production specialist, and four Nigerians identified as Maxwell Uche Nevoh, 30; Olatunji Yusuf, 37; Bankole Akeem Owolabi, 45; and Ganiu Monsiu, 43.
Marwa said the laboratory was located deep inside a forest and was equipped for large-scale methamphetamine production.
He said forensic and chemical monitoring officers who examined the facility on June 18 recovered large quantities of precursor chemicals and industrial processing equipment used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.
Items recovered included drums containing phenylacetic acid, phenyl-2-propanone (P2P), sulphuric acid, tartaric acid, caustic soda, thioglycolic acid, ethyl phenylacetate, aluminium foil and other chemical substances.
The agency also recovered a reactor pot, mounted distillation units, fabricated mixers and condensers, as well as vegetable dehydrator machines allegedly used in the production process.
Marwa said field tests conducted on samples recovered from the site confirmed the presence of methamphetamine, while other substances tested positive for phenylacetic acid.
He said all exhibits had been evacuated and documented for presentation in court.
The NDLEA spokesperson described the operation as another major breakthrough against synthetic drug production in the country.
He noted that the discovery came about four weeks after the agency dismantled a similar methamphetamine laboratory in a forest in Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State.
According to him, the two discoveries suggest attempts by drug trafficking groups to establish synthetic drug manufacturing operations in the South-West region. Marwa said the agency would continue to target drug cartels operating within and outside the country.
He also commended officers of the Oyo State Command involved in the operation and urged members of the public to continue providing useful information to support the fight against illicit drugs.