NDLEA Arrests Mexican Drug Kingpin, Dismantles Meth Lab in Ebonyi as Marwa Warns Cartels

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a suspected Mexican drug kingpin allegedly attempting to leave Nigeria through the Lagos airport, as the agency uncovered another industrial-scale methamphetamine laboratory in Ebonyi State.

NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (Rtd), said the operation was part of an intelligence-driven investigation into a wider network of transnational drug cartels allegedly attempting to establish clandestine laboratories in Nigeria’s forests and rural communities.

Marwa, represented by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed the development in Lagos on Tuesday. He recalled that NDLEA operatives had earlier arrested three Mexican nationals and seven Nigerian collaborators at a forest location in Ogun State on May 16, 2026.

The agency also arrested another Mexican national and four Nigerian collaborators at a methamphetamine laboratory in Tapa village, Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo State, on June 17. Investigations into that operation allegedly led detectives to a Mexican methamphetamine expert who identified a photograph of the suspected kingpin who recruited him into Nigeria.

NDLEA said intelligence showed that Arturo Carrera Loaiza entered Nigeria on June 10 alongside another Mexican national. He was subsequently arrested on August 19 while allegedly attempting to leave the country through the Lagos airport.

According to the agency, Carrera denied involvement in methamphetamine production and claimed he had been invited by a Nigerian contact known as “Henry” for a restaurant business venture. Investigators, however, allegedly recovered photographs showing him in a laboratory coat surrounded by equipment associated with methamphetamine production.

The investigation reportedly led operatives to a property under construction in Isiata Ugoni Okposi, Ebonyi State. CCTV footage allegedly showed Carrera at the property and also captured the movement of chemicals and laboratory equipment from the location on August 21.

Further intelligence led NDLEA operatives to another property where they recovered large quantities of chemicals, laboratory equipment and other materials allegedly connected to methamphetamine production. The agency said the findings, alongside CCTV footage, forensic evidence and witness accounts, have strengthened its case against those linked to the network.

Marwa warned that Nigeria would not become a safe haven for international drug syndicates seeking to relocate their operations into the country.

“Nigeria will not be allowed to become a haven for transnational drug cartels seeking to relocate their laboratories from other jurisdictions into our forests and rural communities.”

He commended officers from the NDLEA Special Operations Unit, Strike Force, Forensics and the Oyo, Ogun and Ebonyi commands for their work, while vowing to pursue the wider network, including alleged financiers and local collaborators.

The agency also urged residents, particularly those in rural and forested communities, to report suspicious activities, unusual chemical odours and unfamiliar structures to the NDLEA.