Posted by Chinenye on Thu 24th Sep, 2026 - tori.ng
The NDLEA says it has uncovered a secret drug lab in Enugu State and arrested two men suspected of being part of an international drug network.
(NDLEA. Photo by Guardian Nigeria News)
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has shut down a Nigerian-Mexican drug cartel running a secret m£thamphetamine lab in Eziama community, Obeagu, Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State.
Two suspected kingpins, Chukwu Christopher, 45, and Chukwu Monday, 60, were arrested and taken to court.
They were allegedly working with a suspected member of a Mexican d@rg cartel based in Mexico City after months of intelligence work and watching.
Christopher and Monday appeared before a Federal High Court judge in Enugu on five counts including conspiracy, running, managing and funding a d@rg trafficking organisation and illegally holding chemicals allegedly used to make m£thamphetamine.
The court set October 21, 2026, for trial after the agency asked for fast-track hearing.
Also charged but still at large are three other men.
The NDLEA said its investigations uncovered a complex cross-border operation involving Nigerian and Mexican suspects.
Watching between December 1 and 4, 2025, tracked Christopher's movements across Lagos, Enugu and Anambra before operatives found him at a compound in Obeagu.
A search found a secret lab with homemade reactors and distilling equipment that could make m£thamphetamine in large amounts.
The facility was like other secret labs recently shut down in Ogun, Oyo and Ebonyi.
From the compound, operatives seized 690 litres of methylamine, 1,000 litres of isopropyl alcohol, 300 litres of hydrochloric acid, 290 litres each of toluene and acetone, 400 litres of liquid sodium hydroxide, 125kg of N-phenylacetamide, 414kg of lead acetate and 769.6kg of tartaric acid among other controlled substances.
The chemicals matched what would be used in m£thamphetamine making.
A search of Monday's family home yielded eight large fuel tanks, four commercial gas burners, four dehydrators and 11kg of ephedrine.
The NDLEA boss said the agency would track down all suspects tied to the cartel and praised officers for their work dismantling the international d@rg operation.
He said Nigeria would not become a haven for cross-border d@rg cartels.
The agency will keep using intelligence and international partnerships to stop illegal d@rg making and tr@fficking.