The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has uncovered a clandestine laboratory allegedly used for the production of methamphetamine in Eziama community, Obeagu, Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State.
The agency also arrested two men in connection with the suspected operation.
The suspects, identified as 45-year-old Chukwu Christopher, also known as Brown, and 60-year-old Chukwu Monday, alias George, were arrested after months of intelligence gathering and surveillance, according to the NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi.
Babafemi disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, saying the suspects allegedly operated the facility in collaboration with Rodriguez Villanueva, whom the agency identified as a Mexican national allegedly linked to a drug cartel in Mexico City.
The NDLEA said its Special Operations Unit began tracking Christopher between December 1 and 4, 2025, following his movements through Lagos, Enugu and Anambra states.
The agency said the surveillance eventually led its operatives to a compound in Obeagu, where they allegedly discovered a laboratory capable of producing methamphetamine on a commercial scale.
The statement quoted the agency as saying, “Surveillance conducted between December 1 and 4, 2025, tracked Brown’s movements across Lagos, Enugu and Anambra states before leading operatives to a compound in Obeagu.”
According to the NDLEA, the facility contained improvised reactors and distillation equipment, while a search of the premises led to the recovery of large quantities of chemicals allegedly used in the production of methamphetamine.
Among the substances recovered were 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, 125 kilogrammes of N-phenylacetamide, 414 kilogrammes of lead acetate and 769.6 kilogrammes of tartaric acid.
The agency also said a search of George’s family residence resulted in the recovery of eight large fuel tanks, four commercial gas burners, four dehydrators and 11 kilogrammes of ephedrine.
The NDLEA said the suspects were subsequently arraigned before Justice Mabel Taiye Segun-Bello of the Federal High Court in Enugu on five counts bordering on conspiracy, organising, managing and financing a drug trafficking organisation, as well as unlawful possession of precursor chemicals allegedly used in methamphetamine production.
The two defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following an application by the NDLEA for an accelerated trial, the court fixed October 21, 2026, for the commencement of proceedings.
The agency said three other individuals named in the charge remain at large.
The NDLEA described the operation as part of an investigation into an alleged transnational drug network involving Nigerian and Mexican suspects. It added that the Enugu facility bore similarities to other clandestine laboratories previously dismantled in Ogun, Oyo and Ebonyi states.
Reacting to the development, NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), said the agency would continue efforts to apprehend suspects still at large.
Marwa said, “We will continue to track down all fleeing suspects connected to this operation and ensure that they face the law.”
He also commended the officers involved in the operation, describing the discovery as evidence of the agency’s continued efforts to prevent Nigeria from being used as a base for international drug trafficking networks.
