NDLEA Dismantles Nigerian-Mexican Meth Cartel In Enugu

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have dismantled a 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 of two alleged kingpins, 45-year-old Chukwu Obumneme Christopher, alias Brown, and 60-year-old Chukwu Georginus Monday, alias George.

The NDLEA, in a statement signed by its spokesperson Femi Babafemi, said the suspects operated the laboratory in partnership with Rodriguez Villanueva, an alleged Mexican drug cartel member based in Mexico City.

According to the agency, the arrests followed several months of intelligence gathering and surveillance by its Special Operations Unit.

The suspects were arraigned before Justice Mabel Taiye Segun-Bello of the Nigerian 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.

The judge fixed October 21, 2026, for trial after the NDLEA applied for an accelerated hearing.

Also named in the charges are Uchenna, alias Uche, Celestine Ikemefuna Iwuchukwu and Villanueva, who are currently at large.

The NDLEA said surveillance conducted between December 1 and 4, 2025, tracked Brown’s movements across Lagos, Enugu and Anambra states before leading operatives to a compound in Obeagu.

The agency said a clandestine laboratory capable of producing methamphetamine in commercial quantities was discovered at the location.

The facility reportedly had improvised reactors and distillation equipment similar to those found at laboratories previously dismantled in Ogun, Oyo and Ebonyi states.

A search of the premises led to the recovery of 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, among other substances.

The NDLEA described the recovered materials as consistent with a P2P-based methamphetamine manufacturing operation.

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 operation, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to apprehending all suspects linked to the cartel.

Marwa commended the officers involved in the operation and said the Enugu laboratory bust demonstrated the agency’s efforts to prevent Nigeria from becoming a base for transnational drug cartels.

He also said the NDLEA would continue to rely on intelligence-driven operations and international partnerships to disrupt illicit drug production and trafficking.