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Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court in Lagos will on Friday, July 24, rule on an application by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) seeking leave to destroy an alleged clandestine Nigerian-Mexican methamphetamine production laboratory uncovered in a remote forest in Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State.
The application follows the arraignment of three Mexican nationals and seven Nigerians, who are standing trial on an 11-count charge bordering on the alleged establishment and operation of the clandestine laboratory. All 10 defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The judge fixed the date after a special court sitting held inside the alleged illicit laboratory at Mowe village, where NDLEA operatives said they recovered facilities allegedly used to produce 2,419.48 kilograms of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of more than N480 billion.
The defendants are Juan Carlos Meza Torrero, Nemecio Martinez Felix and Jesus Lopez Valles, all Mexican nationals, alongside Anochili Innocent Nwankwo, Sunday Christian, Egwuonwu Uchenna Victor, Igwe Abuchi Remijus, Ifeanyichukwu Chibuike Joshua, Omonughwa Kingsley Orike and Emeka Christopher Nwobum.
According to the NDLEA, the defendants allegedly manufactured and possessed 2,419.48 kilograms of methamphetamine, a psychotropic substance classified alongside cocaine, heroin and LSD.
The agency further alleged that the accused managed and financed a drug trafficking network and transported precursor chemicals, including toluene, phenyl-2-propanone (P2P), phenylacetic acid, acetone and hydrochloric acid, from Lagos to the alleged clandestine laboratory using vehicles, including a Toyota Tacoma, a Mercedes-Benz with registration number APP 942 YL and a Toyota Highlander marked GWA 662 DJ.
The NDLEA also alleged that the defendants unlawfully possessed large quantities of precursor chemicals, including 358 kilograms of toluene, 1,834 kilograms of hydrochloric acid and 22.5 kilograms of acetone, which the agency said were intended for the production of methamphetamine.
At Wednesday’s proceedings, the prosecution’s first witness, clandestine laboratory expert Mr. Ajilema Anebi, testified and tendered exhibits relating to the equipment and chemicals recovered from the alleged laboratory.
Anebi told the court that substances recovered from the facility, where the second to the eighth defendants were arrested, were used for the alleged production and storage of large quantities of methamphetamine intended for export outside Nigeria.
He said the identification of the substances followed scientific analysis conducted by him and his team.
NAIJAONPOINT also explained the role of alcohol and hydrochloric acid in the methamphetamine production process, including the production of benzene.
The inventory of chemicals and equipment recovered from the alleged laboratory had earlier been admitted in evidence by the court.
During the proceedings, NDLEA prosecuting counsel, Adekunle Adebanjo, reminded the court of the agency’s pending application seeking leave to destroy the alleged clandestine methamphetamine laboratory.
However, counsel to the defendants, led by Chief Benson Ndakara, opposed aspects of the prosecution’s evidence and raised objections to some of the exhibits tendered.
After hearing submissions from both parties, Justice Kakaki adjourned the matter until July 24 for ruling on the NDLEA’s application.
