NDLEA arraigns drug baron, three Mexican nationals over illicit drugs

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has arraigned an alleged drug kingpin, Anochili Innocent, three Mexican nationals and six other Nigerians before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos over the operation of a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory in Mowe Forest, Ogun State.

The defendants face an 11-count charge, including conspiracy, operating a drug trafficking organisation, unlawful production of 2,419.48kg of methamphetamine valued at over N480 billion, and possession of large quantities of precursor chemicals.

The NDLEA arrested the suspects during a coordinated operations in Ogun and Lagos between 16 and 18 May 2026.

The alleged kingpin was arrested at his residence in Lakowe, Lekki, while other members of the syndicate, including the three Mexican nationals, were arrested at the hidden laboratory in Ogun State.

All defendants pleaded not guilty before Justice Musa Kakaki.

The court ordered their remand at the Lagos Correctional Centre and adjourned the case to 16 and 22 July 2026 for trial and hearing of their bail applications.

Reacting to their arrest and arraignment, NDLEA Chairman, Mohamed Marwa, said the case was one of the agency’s biggest breakthroughs against industrial-scale drug manufacturing, warning that Nigeria will not become a base for international drug cartels.