The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has 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 suspected kingpins identified as 45-year-old Chukwu Obumneme Christopher, alias Brown, and 60-year-old Chukwu Georginus Monday, alias George.
This was disclosed in a statement by the Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, on Thursday.
The NDLEA said 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.
According to the statement, the arrests followed several months of intelligence gathering and surveillance by its Special Operations Unit.
The suspects have since been arraigned before Justice Mabel Taiye Segun-Bello of the Federal High Court, Enugu Judicial Division, on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, organisation, management and financing of a drug trafficking organisation, as well as unlawful possession of precursor chemicals used in methamphetamine production.
Following their pleas, the court adjourned the matter until October 21, 2026, for trial after the NDLEA applied for an accelerated hearing.
Three other suspects named in the charge, Uchenna, alias Uche; Celestine Ikemefuna Iwuchukwu; and Rodriguez Villanueva are currently at large, according to the agency.
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.
A search of the premises reportedly uncovered a clandestine laboratory equipped with improvised reactors and distillation equipment capable of producing methamphetamine in commercial quantities.
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The agency said operatives recovered large quantities of precursor chemicals, including 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.
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 11 kilogrammes of ephedrine.
The NDLEA said the quantity and combination of substances recovered were consistent with a large-scale methamphetamine manufacturing operation.
Reacting to the development, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended the officers involved in the operation and reaffirmed the agency’s determination to apprehend all suspects still at large.
Marwa said the dismantling of the Enugu laboratory demonstrated the agency’s efforts to disrupt transnational drug networks operating in Nigeria.
He said the NDLEA would continue to strengthen intelligence-led operations and international cooperation to prevent both local and foreign drug trafficking organisations from establishing production networks in the country.
The NDLEA chairman also directed personnel to sustain enforcement operations against illicit drug production and trafficking across the country.
