By Ado Oyeyemi
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested a Mexican national, Arturo Carrera Loaiza, described as a kingpin in a transnational methamphetamine network, while attempting to leave Nigeria through the Lagos airport.
The agency also dismantled an industrial-scale methamphetamine laboratory in Ebonyi State as part of investigations into clandestine drug operations allegedly linked to laboratories in Ogun, Oyo and Ebonyi states.
The NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (retd.), disclosed this on Tuesday in Lagos while briefing journalists on the agency’s recent operations.
According to Marwa, the arrest of Loaiza followed investigations launched after three Mexican nationals and seven Nigerian collaborators were arrested at a forest location in Ogun State on May 16, 2026.
He said another Mexican national, 56-year-old Jose Villa Ochoa, and four Nigerians were subsequently arrested at a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory in Tapa village, Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo State, on June 17.
Marwa said investigations revealed that Ochoa was recruited and brought to Nigeria by Loaiza.
He added that international cooperation enabled investigators to obtain Loaiza’s photograph, which Ochoa identified as that of the person who recruited him.
The NDLEA boss said Loaiza entered Nigeria on June 10 alongside another Mexican, Jose Ceballos Perez, before operatives tracked and arrested him on August 19 while he was trying to leave the country through the Lagos airport.
He said Loaiza claimed during interrogation that he was invited to Nigeria by a Nigerian identified as “Henry” for a restaurant business venture and denied involvement in methamphetamine production or the Oyo laboratory.
Marwa, however, said investigators recovered photographs showing Loaiza wearing a blue laboratory coat and standing beside equipment associated with methamphetamine production.
Analysis of the photographs’ location metadata subsequently led operatives to a property under construction at Isiata Ugoni Okposi in Ebonyi State.
He said an operation at the property on August 30 uncovered suspicious activities, while interviews with the site engineer and caretaker revealed the construction of a temporary structure around the septic tank area and persistent chemical odours from the premises.
A CCTV memory card recovered at the property, according to Marwa, showed a foreign national in a blue laboratory coat resembling Loaiza and repeated appearances by John Samuel Ivo Okike, who was linked to the property.
He said footage recorded around 9pm on August 21 showed chemicals and laboratory equipment being moved from the property, with Okike allegedly directing the operation.
Further intelligence led operatives to another house in a neighbouring community, where the relocated materials were reportedly kept under the custody of Nwanja Obasi.
A subsequent raid led to the recovery of large quantities of chemicals, laboratory equipment and other items allegedly connected to methamphetamine production.
The recovered substances included 442.8kg of acetone, 37.1kg of toluene, 20kg of an acetone and bromobenzene mixture, 1.7kg of ethanol, 5.1kg of chloride salt, 31.5kg of hydrochloric acid, 200kg of P2B and 1kg of tartaric acid.
Other items recovered included dehydrators, a white cloth sieve containing loose methamphetamine, condensing units, reaction equipment, pumps, weighing scales, mixers, drums, gas burners, gloves and a blue laboratory coat.
Marwa said the recovered items, CCTV footage, forensic findings and eyewitness accounts had strengthened the agency’s case against members of the suspected network.
He warned that Nigeria would not become a refuge for international drug syndicates seeking to relocate their laboratories into the country, particularly its forests and rural communities.
The NDLEA chief commended operatives of the Special Operations Unit, Strike Force and Forensics teams, as well as personnel of the Ogun, Oyo and Ebonyi commands, for their roles in the operations.
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He added that the agency would continue to pursue the investigation until the suspected network, including its financiers and local collaborators, was brought to justice.
