Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have discovered and dismantled a fortified, industrial-scale clandestine methamphetamine laboratory operated by a Nigerian-Mexican cartel deep within the forest of Tapa Village, Ibarapa North Local Government Area, Oyo State.
The breakthrough comes barely a month after the agency dismantled a similar massive meth laboratory in a forest in Ijebu East, Ogun State, signaling a desperate attempt by drug barons to turn the Southwest axis into a synthetic drug manufacturing hub.
Speaking on the development at the NDLEA Headquarters in Abuja, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Agency, Mohamed Marwa (Rtd) disclosed this at a press briefing on Wednesday.
Mr Marwa, who was represented by the Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, commended the gallantry, dedication, and clinical professionalism of the officers involved in the operation.
“On Wednesday, 17th June 2026, tactical operatives of the NDLEA stormed a highly fortified, industrial-scale clandestine methamphetamine laboratory operating deep within the forest of Tapa Village, Ibarapa North Local Government Area, Oyo State.
“This was not a rudimentary setup; it was a sophisticated, highly organised transnational syndicate,” he said.
During the raid, he said the operatives successfully arrested five key members of the cartel on-site.
“They include a 56-year-old Mexican Methamphetamine expert, Jose Villa Ochoa, brought in specifically to provide the technical expertise for large-scale synthesis and four Nigerian collaborators providing logistical support, cover, and local operations. They are: Maxwell Uche Nevoh, 30; Olatunji Yusuf, 37; Bankole Akeem Owolabi, 45; and Ganiu Monsiu, 43,” he noted.
He said the arrest of a foreign cartel specialist on Nigerian soil underscores the transnational nature of this threat, but more importantly, it underscores our Agency’s world-class intelligence capability to track, intercept, and neutralise them.
Following the successful raid, according to him, a specialised team from our Directorate of Forensic and Chemical Monitoring moved in on 18 June to conduct a rigorous forensic examination of the facility.
He said 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 the main, highly controlled precursor required for methamphetamine synthesis; 1800-litre drums containing phenylacetic acid (the primary precursor used to synthesise P2P); two 180L drums containing a staggering 300 litres of whitish crystalline substance; four 180litres drums containing dark liquid undergoing synthesis.
“Others include: 101 bags (25kg each) of caustic soda; 17 containers (25litres each) of sulphuric acid; 19.5 containers (25kg each) of tartaric acid; 5 containers of reniso ultracool 68 (three 50litres and two 25 litres capacity; 25 bottles (500ml each) of 80 per cent thioglycolic acid; 2 containers (25litres 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.”
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Furthermore, he said the crystalline substance from the 180litres 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.”
Mr 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 Southwest axis, adding that the cartels thought hiding in dense forests would shield them from the long arm of the law but were wrong.
“Let the message go out clearly to all drug cartels, domestic and international, that Nigeria is not, and will never be, a safe haven for your illicit trade. We will find you in the cities, we will track you into the forests, and we will dismantle your infrastructure of death. They thought hiding in dense forests would shield them from the long arm of the law. They were wrong”, he warned.
“We want to commend the gallantry, dedication, and clinical professionalism of our officers of the Oyo State Command involved in this operation. To the Nigerian public, we say thank you for your continued trust and credible information. Together, we are securing the future of our nation”, he stated.
