Precious Nwonu, Enugu
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested a Mexican national allegedly linked to a transnational methamphetamine syndicate and uncovered an industrial-scale clandestine laboratory in Ebonyi State.
The suspect, identified as Mexican national Arturo Carrera Loaiza, was arrested on August 19, 2026, while allegedly attempting to leave Nigeria through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
The NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), disclosed the development on Tuesday during a briefing with journalists in Lagos.
Marwa, represented by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said the arrest followed months of investigation into a transnational drug network suspected of establishing methamphetamine laboratories in different parts of Nigeria.
He said the investigation was connected to earlier operations in Ogun and Oyo states, where several Mexican nationals and Nigerians had been arrested.
According to him, NDLEA operatives on May 16 arrested three Mexican nationals and seven Nigerians at a forest location in Ogun State.
Another Mexican national, 56-year-old Jose Villa Ochoa, and four Nigerians were later arrested on June 17 at a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory in a forest area in Tapa village, Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Marwa said investigations by the agency’s Special Operations Unit revealed that Ochoa allegedly identified Loaiza as the person who recruited him and brought him to Nigeria.
He said international cooperation enabled investigators to obtain a photograph of Loaiza, which Ochoa allegedly identified during questioning.
Further intelligence indicated that Loaiza arrived in Nigeria on June 10 alongside another Mexican national, Jose Ceballos Perez.
Marwa said Loaiza was eventually tracked to the Lagos airport, where he was arrested while allegedly trying to leave the country.
During interrogation, the suspect reportedly claimed that he came to Nigeria to establish a restaurant business and denied involvement in the production of methamphetamine.
However, investigators allegedly recovered photographs showing him wearing a laboratory coat and standing beside equipment suspected to have been used in methamphetamine production.
According to Marwa, forensic analysis of metadata from the photographs led investigators to a property under construction in Isiata Ugoni Okposi, Ebonyi State.
A subsequent operation at the property on August 30 reportedly uncovered suspicious structures, chemical odours and other indications of possible illicit drug production.
Marwa said analysis of CCTV footage recovered from the premises allegedly showed Loaiza and a Nigerian suspect, John Samuel Ivo Okike, moving chemicals and laboratory equipment from the property.
Further intelligence reportedly led NDLEA operatives to another building, where additional chemicals and equipment suspected to be connected to methamphetamine production were recovered.
Items recovered included acetone, toluene, hydrochloric acid, ethanol, P2B, tartaric acid, condensing units, fabricated reaction pots, weighing scales, gas burners and a laboratory coat allegedly linked to the suspects.
The NDLEA chairman said CCTV footage, forensic findings and witness accounts had provided additional evidence as investigators continued efforts to establish the activities of the suspected syndicate.
Marwa warned that the agency would not allow Nigeria to become a base for international drug cartels seeking to establish clandestine laboratories in rural communities.
He said the arrest of Loaiza and the discovery of the Ebonyi facility, coming after similar operations in Ogun and Oyo, demonstrated the agency’s efforts to use intelligence and forensic investigation to disrupt transnational drug networks.
Marwa commended personnel from the NDLEA Special Operations Unit, Strike Force, Forensics Department and the Ogun, Oyo and Ebonyi State Commands for their roles in the operations.
He said investigations were ongoing to identify and apprehend other alleged members, financiers and collaborators linked to the syndicate.