*Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd.), Chairman/CEO, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, commends the gallantry, dedication, and clinical professionalism of the officers involved in apprehending a Mexican, 4 others, and recovering multibillion Naira worth of illicit substances in a forest in Tapa Village, Oyo State, South-West Nigeria
Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect
In continuation of the agency’s offensive against illicit drugs in Nigeria, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) again, have struck another decisive blow against transnational drug syndicates recently.
The NDLEA operatives discovered and dismantled a fortified, industrial-scale but clandestine methamphetamine laboratory, operated by a Nigerian-Mexican cartel deep within the forest of Tapa Village, Ibarapa North Local Government Area (LGA), in Oyo State, South-West Nigeria.
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The anti-narcotics regulatory agency said the breakthrough came barely four weeks after its operatives had dismantled a similar massive meth laboratory in a forest, in Ijebu East, Ogun State.
The NDLEA noted the development signalled a “desperate attempt by drug barons to turn the South-West axis into a synthetic drug manufacturing hub.”
Speaking on the development at the NDLEA Headquarters in Abuja, FCT, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd.), Chairman/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the agency, represented by Mr. Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy at NDLEA, at a media briefing Wednesday, June 24, 2026, commended the gallantry, dedication, and clinical professionalism of the officers involved in the operation.
The agency disclosed that “on Wednesday, 17th June, 2026, tactical operatives of the NDLEA stormed a highly fortified, industrial-scale clandestine methamphetamine laboratory operating deep within the forest of Tapa Village, in Ibarapa North Local Government Area (LGA), Oyo State.
“This was not a rudimentary setup; it was a sophisticated, highly organised transnational syndicate.”
He also reporters: “During the raid, our operatives successfully arrested five key members of the cartel on-site.
“They include a 56-year-old Mexican Methamphetamine expert, Jose Villa Ochoa, brought in specifically to provide the technical expertise for large-scale synthesis and four Nigerian collaborators providing logistical support, cover, and local operations.”
Marwa said: “They are: Maxwell Uche Nevoh, 30; Olatunji Yusuf, 37; Bankole Akeem Owolabi, 45; and Ganiu Monsiu, 43.
“The arrest of a foreign cartel specialist on Nigerian soil underscores the transnational nature of this threat, but more importantly, it underscores our Agency’s world-class intelligence capability to track, intercept, and neutralise them.”
The Chief Executive of NDLEA further stated: “Following the successful raid, a specialised team from our Directorate of Forensic and Chemical Monitoring moved in on June 18th, 2026, to conduct a rigorous forensic examination of the facility.
“What they uncovered is pa massive, factory-level production line of poison.”
Array of seizures during operation on illegal drug factory
Enumerating the number of seizures during the raid on the illegal industrial scale meth manufacturing facility, Marwa said: “The laboratory was fully stocked with a frightening array of precursor chemicals, industrial catalysts, and heavy-duty processing equipment.
“Chemicals and Materials recovered include: Phenyl-2-propanone (P2P), which is the the main, highly controlled precursor required for methamphetamine synthesis; 1800-litre drums containing Phenylacetic acid (the primary precursor used to synthesise P2P); Two 180L drums containing a staggering 300 litres of whitish crystalline substance; Four 180L drums containing dark liquid undergoing synthesis.
“Others include: 101 bags (25kg each) of Caustic Soda; 17 containers (25L each) of Sulphuric Acid; 19.5 containers (25kg each) of Tartaric Acid; 5 containers of Reniso Ultracool 68 (three 50L and two 25L capacity; 25 bottles (500ml each) of 80% Thioglycolic Acid; 2 containers (25L each) of Ethyl Phenylacetate, and 25 cartons of aluminum foil.”
He equally noted: “The Industrial Processing Equipment discovered at the site include: One (1) Reactor Pot, which is the heart of the chemical synthesis; Two (2) mounted distillation units and three (3) fabricated mixers and condensers; as well as Two (2) vegetable dehydrator machines used for the rapid drying of the crystals.
“As a result, immediate field tests were conducted by our forensic experts. Samples of the finished crystals recovered yielded a definitive positive result for Methamphetamine. Furthermore, the crystalline substance from the 180L drum tested positive for Phenylacetic acid.”
The Chairman of the agency said: “Every single gram of these exhibits has been safely evacuated, documented, and preserved for comprehensive and strict evidential presentation in court.
“This is yet another multibillion-naira worth of illicit substances and production equipment ready to push millions of doses of synthetic drugs into our streets, communities and the international community but for the vigilance of our dedicated officers.”
Besides, Marwa explained that the proximity of the latest discovery to the Ogun State lab uncovered about four weeks ago revealed a desperate attempt by drug barons to establish a synthetic drug manufacturing hub in the South-West axis.
According to him, the cartels thought hiding in dense forests would shield them from the long arm of the law but were wrong.
Warned he: “Let the message go out clearly to all drug cartels, domestic and international that Nigeria is not, and will never be, a safe haven for your illicit trade.
“We will find you in the cities, we will track you into the forests, and we will dismantle your infrastructure of death.
“They thought hiding in dense forests would shield them from the long arm of the law. They were wrong.”
Marwa stated: “We want to commend the gallantry, dedication, and clinical professionalism of our officers of the Oyo State Command involved in this operation.
“To the Nigerian public, we say thank you for your continued trust and credible information. Together, we are securing the future of our nation”, he added.