Two Mexican nationals and four Nigerians have been arraigned before a Federal High Court in Ibadan over an alleged attempt to establish a methamphetamine manufacturing operation in Oyo State.
This was disclosed in a statement released on Friday by the Director of Media and Advocacy, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Femi Babafemi.
According to Babafemi, the six defendants appeared before Justice Nkeonye Evelyn Maha following their arrest in connection with an illegal drug laboratory uncovered in a wooded area of Tapa village, Ibarapa North Local Government Area.
He said the Nigerians are Maxwell Uche Nevoh, 30; Olatunji Yusuf, 37; Bankole Akeem Owolabi, 45; and Ganiu Monsiu, 43. They were arrested alongside 56-year-old Mexican national Jose Villa Ochoa during an NDLEA operation on 17 June 2026.
Babafemi added that the second Mexican suspect, identified as 40-year-old Carrera Loaiza Arturo, was apprehended on 19 August at Lagos airport while allegedly attempting to leave Nigeria.
He said the defendants are facing four counts bordering on conspiracy to establish and run a drug trafficking network and setting up an illegal facility for the production of methamphetamine.
According to Babafemi, the charges relate to alleged activities carried out at different locations in Lagos and Oyo states between December 2025 and June 2026.
He said they were also accused of moving and distributing chemical substances intended for the production of the prohibited drug, an offence under Section 20(1)(f), punishable under Section 20(2)(a) of the NDLEA Act.
Babafemi said the six defendants denied the allegations when the charges were read to them in languages they understood.
He said Justice Maha subsequently ordered that they be remanded at the Correctional Centre in Ibadan pending further proceedings.
Babafemi added that the court fixed 26 to 29 January 2027 for the commencement of their trial.
