By Our Correspondent
ABUJA – The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has dismantled an alleged Nigerian-Mexican drug cartel operating a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory in Eziama community, Obeagu, Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State.
The operation led to the arrest and arraignment of two suspected kingpins identified as 45-year-old Chukwu Obumneme Christopher, alias Brown, and 60-year-old Chukwu Georginus Monday, alias George.
The NDLEA said the suspects allegedly operated the laboratory in partnership with Rodriguez Villanueva, whom the agency identified as a member of a Mexican drug cartel based in Mexico City.
The two men were arraigned before Justice Mabel Taiye Segun-Bello of the Federal High Court, Enugu Judicial Division, 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 methamphetamine production.
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 still at large are Uchenna, alias Uche; Celestine Ikemefuna Iwuchukwu; and Villanueva.
According to the agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi the breakthrough followed months of intelligence gathering and surveillance by its Special Operations Unit.
The NDLEA 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.
Babafemi added that a search of the premises uncovered a clandestine laboratory fitted with improvised reactors and distillation equipment allegedly capable of producing methamphetamine in commercial quantities.
The agency said the facility was similar to laboratories previously dismantled in Ogun, Oyo and Ebonyi states.
Among the substances recovered from the premises 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, 125 kilogrammes of N-phenylacetamide, 414 kilogrammes of lead acetate and 769.6 kilogrammes of tartaric acid.
The NDLEA said a separate search of George’s family residence also led to the recovery of eight large fuel tanks, four commercial gas burners, four dehydrators and 11 kilogrammes of ephedrine.
Reacting to the development, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), said the agency would continue to track down all suspects linked to the syndicate.
Marwa commended the officers involved in the operation, describing the bust as further evidence of the agency’s determination to prevent Nigeria from becoming a base for transnational drug networks.
He said the NDLEA would sustain intelligence-driven operations and international partnerships to disrupt drug trafficking networks and close loopholes being exploited by local and foreign drug traffickers.
The NDLEA boss also directed personnel of the agency to sustain enforcement efforts against illicit drug production and trafficking across the country.