The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has formally charged Anochili Innocent, three Mexican citizens, and six additional Nigerians at the Federal High Court in Lagos. These individuals are accused of running an illegal methamphetamine production facility located within the Mowe Forest in Ogun State.
The group faces an 11-count indictment involving conspiracy, the management of a drug trafficking network, the illicit manufacturing of over 2,419 kilograms of methamphetamine estimated to be worth more than N480 billion, and the unauthorized handling of precursor chemicals. The agency apprehended the suspects during organized raids across Lagos and Ogun states from May 16 to May 18, 2026. The primary suspect was taken into custody at his home in Lekki, while the remaining syndicate members were detained at the clandestine laboratory site.
Each defendant entered a plea of not guilty before Justice Musa Kakaki. The court has directed that the group remain in detention at the Lagos Correctional Centre until the trial and bail application hearings scheduled for July 16 and July 22, 2026. NDLEA Chairman Mohamed Marwa described this operation as a significant victory against large-scale drug production, emphasizing that Nigeria will not serve as a hub for international criminal cartels.
