Nigeria uncovers largest meth lab, arrests Mexican nationals

Nigeria’s anti-drugs agency said on Wednesday it had uncovered what it described as the country’s largest-ever industrial-scale methamphetamine laboratory hidden in a remote forest in the southwest, and arrested nine suspects, including three Mexican nationals.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency said in a statement that the raid on a remote farm in Ogun state revealed an “industrial-scale clandestine laboratory”. The operation also included raids on two residential properties in an upscale Lagos neighbourhood.

Authorities recovered chemicals worth $362.9 million, including crystal meth and precursor substances used to manufacture the drug, the agency added.

The NDLEA said the lab was hidden in a forested area, making detection difficult. It described the discovery as a major blow to drug trafficking networks operating in the country.

“We are fully aware of the shifting tactics of these cartels, including the disturbing trend of hiring South American cartel specialists to set up production factories in our rural communities,” NDLEA CEO Buba Marwa said.

Marwa added that the agency would continue to track down similar operations across the country. He called on local communities to report suspicious activities.

Nigeria has become a transit and production hub for illicit drugs bound for Europe and other regions. The country’s anti-drug agency has stepped up raids in recent years, targeting both local and international trafficking rings.

The nine suspects are in custody and will face charges related to drug production and trafficking. The NDLEA did not provide a date for their court appearance.

SOURCE: AFP