The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dismantled a large-scale methamphetamine production laboratory concealed inside a forest in Oyo State and arrested five suspects, including a Mexican national allegedly recruited to oversee drug production.

The facility, located in Tapa Village, Ibarapa North Local Government Area, was uncovered during a raid carried out by NDLEA operatives as part of efforts to combat the growing threat of synthetic drug manufacturing in Nigeria.

Mexican National Among Suspects Arrested

NDLEA said the operation led to the arrest of Jose Villa Ochoa, a 56-year-old Mexican national described as a methamphetamine production specialist.

Four Nigerians were also arrested during the raid. They were identified as Maxwell Uche Nevoh, Olatunji Yusuf, Bankole Akeem Owolabi and Ganiu Monsiu.

According to the agency, the suspects are believed to be members of a transnational drug trafficking network operating between Nigeria and foreign partners.

Industrial-Scale Drug Facility Uncovered

The agency described the forest laboratory as a sophisticated operation equipped with industrial-grade machinery and large quantities of precursor chemicals used in methamphetamine production.

Items recovered from the site included reactor pots, distillation units, mixers, condensers and several containers holding chemical substances.

Investigators also discovered large quantities of phenylacetic acid, sulphuric acid, caustic soda and other materials commonly used in the manufacture of synthetic drugs.

NDLEA Raises Concern Over Foreign Cartels

Speaking on the operation, NDLEA Chairman, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), said the discovery highlighted attempts by international drug cartels to establish production bases in Nigeria.

The agency noted that the Oyo forest laboratory was one of the largest clandestine methamphetamine facilities uncovered in recent years.

Officials warned that Nigeria must not become a hub for synthetic drug production and trafficking.

Second Major Discovery in Southwest

The raid comes weeks after another large methamphetamine laboratory linked to foreign suspects was dismantled in Ogun State.

NDLEA said the two discoveries indicate a worrying trend of criminal groups moving drug production facilities into remote forest locations to avoid detection.

The agency pledged to intensify surveillance and intelligence operations across the country to disrupt similar networks.

Investigation Ongoing

NDLEA said investigations are continuing to identify other members of the syndicate and uncover possible local and international connections.

The suspects are expected to face prosecution after the conclusion of investigations.

NDLEA UNCOVERS ANOTHER INDUSTRIAL-SCALE CLANDESTINE METH LABORATORY IN OYO FOREST

…Arrests Mexican, 4 others; recovers multi-billion-naira worth of illicit substances

….We’ll find you in the cities, track you into the forests, and dismantle your infrastructure of death, Marwa… pic.twitter.com/dpbZ6179ea

— UNCLE DEJI™️ (@DejiAdesogan) June 24, 2026