Court to Decide Friday on NDLEA Request to Destroy ₦480bn Methamphetamine Laboratory

The Federal High Court in Lagos will on Friday, July 24, rule on an application by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) seeking approval to destroy a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory uncovered in a forest in Ogun State.

Justice Musa Kakaki fixed the date after a special court session held on Wednesday at the laboratory site in Mowe village, Ijebu East Local Government Area.

The NDLEA had earlier arraigned three Mexican nationals and seven Nigerians on an 11-count charge relating to the alleged establishment and operation of the illicit drug production facility.

According to the agency, operatives recovered equipment and chemicals allegedly used to manufacture 2,419.48 kilograms of methamphetamine with an estimated street value exceeding ₦480 billion.

The defendants, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, are accused of manufacturing, possessing and managing the production of methamphetamine, a prohibited psychotropic substance.

The agency also alleged that the suspects financed and operated a drug trafficking network responsible for transporting precursor chemicals from Lagos to the remote laboratory.

The chemicals reportedly recovered include toluene, phenyl-2-propanone, phenylacetic acid, acetone and hydrochloric acid.

Prosecutors further alleged that the suspects unlawfully possessed 358 kilograms of toluene, 1,834 kilograms of hydrochloric acid and 22.5 kilograms of acetone for methamphetamine production.

The NDLEA also linked several vehicles, including a Toyota Tacoma, a Mercedes-Benz and a Toyota Highlander, to the transportation of the chemicals.

During Wednesday’s proceedings, the prosecution presented its first witness, clandestine laboratory expert Ajilema Anebi.

Anebi testified that scientific analysis conducted by him and his team confirmed that the recovered chemicals and equipment were used in the production and storage of methamphetamine allegedly intended for export.

He explained the role of alcohol and hydrochloric acid in the manufacturing process and tendered exhibits relating to the laboratory equipment and chemicals recovered from the site.

The inventory of the recovered items had earlier been admitted into evidence.

NDLEA counsel Adekunle Adebanjo urged the court to grant the agency permission to destroy the laboratory, arguing that it remained a dangerous facility.

Defence counsel Benson Ndakara opposed parts of the prosecution’s evidence and challenged some of the exhibits tendered before the court.

The ruling will determine whether the agency can proceed with demolishing what it describes as one of Nigeria’s largest illegal methamphetamine production facilities.