The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has successfully raided a large-scale methamphetamine laboratory hidden deep within the Tapa Village forest in the Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo State. This operation targeted a transnational syndicate involved in the illegal production of synthetic drugs.
This discovery follows a similar raid conducted four weeks ago in Ogun State, highlighting a trend of drug cartels attempting to establish manufacturing bases within Nigeria’s southwest region. During the press briefing in Abuja on June 24, 2026, NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd), represented by Femi Babafemi, praised the tactical precision of the team that stormed the site on June 17, 2026.
Authorities arrested five individuals at the facility, including Jose Villa Ochoa, a 56-year-old Mexican national described as an expert in methamphetamine synthesis. The four Nigerian accomplices providing logistical and local support were identified as Maxwell Uche Nevoh, Olatunji Yusuf, Bankole Akeem Owolabi, and Ganiu Monsiu.
Forensic teams secured the site on June 18, 2026, recovering significant quantities of precursor chemicals such as Phenylacetic acid, Caustic Soda, and Sulphuric Acid, alongside industrial equipment including reactor pots, distillation units, and drying machines. Laboratory testing confirmed the substances found were indeed methamphetamine.
Brig. Gen. Marwa emphasized that these seizures prevented millions of illicit drug doses from entering communities both locally and abroad. He warned that the agency remains committed to tracking criminal syndicates regardless of where they hide, stating that Nigeria will not serve as a sanctuary for drug production.