A Federal High Court in Lagos will on Friday rule on an application by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) seeking permission to destroy a clandestine Nigerian-Mexican methamphetamine laboratory uncovered in Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State.
Justice Musa Kakaki fixed the date after holding a special court session inside the illegal laboratory located in Mowe village, where operatives recovered facilities allegedly used to produce 2,419.48 kilograms of methamphetamine valued at more than ₦480 billion.
The NDLEA had earlier arraigned three Mexican nationals and seven Nigerians on an 11-count charge bordering on the alleged establishment and operation of the illicit drug laboratory.
The defendants are Juan Carlos Torrero, Nemecio Felix, Jesus Valles, Anochili Nwankwo, Sunday Christian, Egwuonwu Victor, Igwe Remijus, Ifeanyichukwu Joshua, Omonughwa Orike and Emeka Nwobum.
According to the anti-drug agency, the suspects allegedly manufactured and possessed 2,419.48 kilograms of methamphetamine, a highly addictive psychotropic substance classified alongside cocaine, heroin and LSD.
The NDLEA also alleged that the defendants operated and financed a drug trafficking network and transported precursor chemicals—including toluene, phenyl-2-propanone (P2P), phenylacetic acid, acetone and hydrochloric acid—from Lagos to the laboratory using different vehicles.
The agency further accused the suspects of unlawfully possessing large quantities of chemicals intended for methamphetamine production, including 358 kilograms of toluene, 1,834 kilograms of hydrochloric acid and 22.5 kilograms of acetone.
All 10 defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
During the hearing, the prosecution’s first witness, Ajilema Anebi, an expert in clandestine laboratories, testified that scientific analysis confirmed the recovered chemicals and equipment were used to produce and store large quantities of methamphetamine intended for export outside Nigeria.
He also explained the role of some of the chemicals recovered in the methamphetamine production process.
While NDLEA urged the court to grant its application to destroy the laboratory, defence lawyers objected to parts of the prosecution’s evidence and challenged some of the exhibits tendered before the court.
After hearing both parties, Justice Kakaki adjourned the matter until July 24 to deliver his ruling on the NDLEA’s application.
