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ABUJA — The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a suspected Mexican drug kingpin attempting to flee Nigeria through the Lagos airport and dismantled an industrial-scale methamphetamine laboratory in Ebonyi State.

The development, according to the agency, is part of an expanding investigation into a transnational drug network allegedly recruiting foreign methamphetamine experts and establishing clandestine laboratories in Nigeria’s forests and rural communities.

NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (retd.), said the latest operation demonstrated the agency’s determination to prevent Nigeria from becoming a hub for international drug cartels.

Marwa, who spoke through the Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, at a media briefing in Lagos on Tuesday, said the breakthrough followed months of intelligence gathering and forensic investigations into a network linked to several clandestine laboratories uncovered in Ogun, Oyo and Ebonyi states.

He recalled that NDLEA operatives on May 16, 2026, arrested three Mexican nationals and seven Nigerian collaborators at a forest hideout in Ogun State.

A month later, on June 17, the agency arrested another Mexican national and four Nigerian collaborators at a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory concealed in a forested area of Tapa village, Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo State.

Large quantities of methamphetamine and precursor chemicals were reportedly recovered from the Oyo laboratory.

According to Marwa, investigations by the agency’s Special Operations Unit revealed that the 56-year-old Mexican methamphetamine expert arrested in Oyo had been recruited into Nigeria by a Mexican drug kingpin.

Working with international partners, investigators obtained a photograph of the suspected kingpin, which the arrested Mexican national reportedly identified as the man who recruited and transported him to Nigeria.

The suspect was subsequently identified as Arturo Carrera Loaiza, who, according to the agency, entered Nigeria on June 10 alongside another Mexican national.

NDLEA operatives eventually tracked and arrested Carrera Loaiza on August 19 while he was allegedly attempting to leave the country through the Lagos airport.

During interrogation, the suspect reportedly claimed that he had been invited to Nigeria by a Nigerian contact identified only as “Henry” under the guise of a restaurant business venture. He also denied knowledge of methamphetamine production or involvement with the Tapa village laboratory.

However, investigators said they recovered photographs showing Carrera Loaiza wearing a blue laboratory coat and standing among equipment consistent with methamphetamine production.

Analysis of location metadata embedded in the photographs allegedly led investigators to a property under construction at Isiata Ugoni Okposi in Ebonyi State.

On August 30, NDLEA operatives raided the property, which was linked to John Samuel Ivo Okike.

Interviews with people found at the site, including the site engineer and a caretaker, reportedly revealed the presence of a suspicious temporary structure over a septic tank area behind the building, as well as persistent strong chemical odours.

Investigators also recovered a CCTV memory card from the property.

According to NDLEA, forensic examination of the footage showed a foreign national wearing a blue laboratory coat who matched Carrera Loaiza, as well as repeated appearances by Okike.

The footage allegedly captured the movement of chemicals and laboratory equipment from the property at about 9 p.m. on August 21, with Okike reportedly directing the operation alongside other individuals.

Acting on further intelligence, NDLEA operatives traced the relocated materials to an isolated house in a neighbouring community allegedly under the custody of Nwanja Obasi.

A subsequent raid led to the recovery of a large cache of chemicals, equipment and paraphernalia associated with methamphetamin

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The minister of the Federal Capital Territory FCT will tonight by 8pm appear on Arise tv as special guest.

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The Lagos State High Court has nullified the installation and coronation of Ibrahim Adebowale Saliu as the Onise of Ise Kingdom in the Lekki Local Council Development Area of Epe Local Government Area.

The court also ordered the Lagos State Government to withdraw the appointment letter, staff of office and official recognition granted to Saliu following his installation on August 21, 2026.

Justice Yetunde Adesola Adesanya of the Lagos State High Court, Igbosere, gave the orders on Friday, September 11, 2026, in a ruling on an application filed by Alhaji Adeniyi Atere and Mrs Idowu Adebisi Lana in Suit No. LD/0022PRA/2026.

The applicants had approached the court to challenge the process that produced Saliu as the Oba-elect and his subsequent appointment and installation as the Onise of Ise.

In her ruling, Justice Adesanya directed Saliu to surrender the appointment letter, staff of office and other official materials issued to him in connection with the disputed installation.

The judge also restrained him from parading or presenting himself as the Onise of Ise pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

The legal battle followed an earlier interim order issued by Justice S. I. Sonaike on August 13, 2026, restraining the Lagos State Government and other defendants from taking further steps to appoint Saliu based on a March 30, 2026 letter forwarding his name as the Oba-elect.

The earlier order was made against allegations that the selection process failed to comply with the Obas and Chiefs of Lagos State Law, 2015, and the Registered Declaration governing the selection of the Onise of Ise.

Although the interim injunction was expected to remain in force for seven days, the parties were scheduled to return to court on August 20 to report compliance and continue proceedings.

The court found that the relevant respondents had been duly served with the order and were aware of the pending case. It noted that some of the respondents had even filed a motion dated August 18 seeking to discharge or set aside the injunction.

Despite the pending proceedings, the installation and coronation of Saliu took place on August 21 at the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development in Alausa, Ikeja.

The applicants subsequently told the court that the state government proceeded with the ceremony in defiance of the subsisting court order. Photographs from the installation and coronation were among the evidence presented before the court.

After considering the affidavits, documents and submissions of the parties, Justice Adesanya held that the earlier injunction had been breached.

The judge further considered whether the court had the power to reverse an act that had already been carried out despite an injunction.

She held that although injunctions are ordinarily issued to prevent an action from taking place, the court can, in exceptional circumstances, grant a mandatory injunction requiring parties to undo an act already carried out.

The court relied on previous judicial authorities, including cases involving the Central Bank of Nigeria and a separate chieftaincy dispute, in reaching its decision.

Justice Adesanya consequently ordered the Lagos State Governor, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, as well as the ministry, to withdraw the appointment letter, staff of office and official recognition granted to Saliu.

The court also ordered Saliu to surrender the documents and materials connected to his appointment and to cease presenting himself as the traditional ruler of Ise.

It further set aside and nullified the installation and coronation held on August 21.

However, the judge stressed that the latest ruling does not constitute a final determination of who is legally entitled to occupy the Onise of Ise stool.

The orders are to remain in force pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit, which will address the wider dispute over the selection and appointment of the traditional ruler.