US Warns Mexican Drug Cartels Targeting Nigeria for Meth Production

The United States has warned that Mexican drug cartels are increasingly targeting Nigeria as a base for methamphetamine production and international trafficking, raising concerns about the expansion of transnational drug networks in West Africa.

US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Michael Gonzales gave the warning in Abuja, where he highlighted the importance of cooperation between Washington and Nigerian authorities in tackling illicit drug production and distribution.

According to the disclosure, Nigerian authorities have dismantled four methamphetamine laboratories this year as part of efforts to disrupt the activities of suspected international drug trafficking networks.

Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa, said the agency uncovered laboratories in Ogun, Oyo, Enugu and Ebonyi states, which were allegedly linked to Mexican drug cartels.

Marwa also disclosed that three Mexican methamphetamine experts and their Nigerian collaborators were arrested at a laboratory in Ogun State. He said illicit substances reportedly worth more than $360 million were recovered during the operation.

The NDLEA chairman warned that criminal networks could exploit West Africa as a transit route for moving methamphetamine to markets in Europe, Asia and the United States.

He called on the US government to sustain or increase its support for Nigeria’s anti-drug operations, stressing the importance of international assistance in tackling organised trafficking networks that operate across national borders.

Both officials emphasised that stronger cooperation between Nigeria and the United States was necessary to identify trafficking routes, dismantle production facilities and bring those involved in the illicit drug trade to justice.

The warning highlights concerns about the potential expansion of international drug trafficking networks in Nigeria. Continued enforcement operations and intelligence sharing are expected to remain important components of efforts to prevent the country from becoming a major production or transit hub for illicit drugs.