ENUGU, Nigeria — The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dismantled a Nigerian-Mexican drug cartel allegedly operating a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory in Eziama community, Obeagu, Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State.
Two alleged kingpins, 45-year-old Chukwu Obumneme Christopher, alias Brown, and 60-year-old Chukwu Georginus Monday, alias George, have been arrested and arraigned before the Federal High Court sitting in Enugu over their alleged involvement in the operation.
NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement issued to newsmen on Thursday in Abuja.
According to Babafemi, the suspects allegedly operated the laboratory in partnership with Rodriguez Villanueva, described by the agency as a member of a Mexican drug cartel based in Mexico City.
The suspects were arraigned before Justice Mabel Taiye Segun-Bello on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, organising, managing and financing a drug trafficking organisation, as well as unlawful possession of precursor chemicals used in the production of methamphetamine, contrary to the NDLEA Act.
Following their pleas, the court fixed October 21, 2026, for trial after the NDLEA applied for an accelerated hearing.
Also named in the charge, but currently at large, are Uchenna, alias Uche; Celestine Ikemefuna Iwuchukwu; and Villanueva.
Babafemi said investigations by the NDLEA Special Operations Unit uncovered what the agency described as a sophisticated transnational drug operation.
He said surveillance conducted between December 1 and 4, 2025, tracked Brown’s movements across Lagos, Enugu and Anambra states before operatives traced him to a compound in Obeagu.
A search of the premises reportedly led to the discovery of a clandestine laboratory equipped with improvised reactors and distillation apparatus, which the agency said was capable of producing methamphetamine in commercial quantities.
The NDLEA said the facility bore similarities to other clandestine laboratories recently dismantled in Ogun, Oyo and Ebonyi states.
Among the precursor chemicals recovered from the laboratory were 690 litres of methylamine, 1,000 litres of isopropyl alcohol, 300 litres of hydrochloric acid, 290 litres each of toluene and acetone, 400 litres of liquid sodium hydroxide, 125kg of N-phenylacetamide, 414kg of lead acetate and 769.6kg of tartaric acid.
The agency said the quantity and combination of the chemicals were consistent with what it described as a high-potency, P2P-based methamphetamine manufacturing operation.
A related search of George’s family residence also led to the recovery of eight large fuel tanks, four commercial gas burners, four dehydrators and 11kg of ephedrine, according to the NDLEA.
Reacting to the operation, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), vowed that the agency would continue to pursue suspects still at large and ensure that all those linked to the alleged cartel face prosecution.
Marwa commended the officers involved in the operation for what he described as their professionalism and determination in dismantling the alleged international drug syndicate.
He said the Enugu laboratory bust demonstrated the agency’s determination to prevent Nigeria from becoming a hub for transnational drug cartels.
The NDLEA chairman also said the agency would sustain intelligence-led operations and international collaboration to disrupt illicit drug production and trafficking networks operating in Nigeria.
