*Court remands suspects in correctional centre, fixes trial for January
Michael Olugbode in Abuja
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arraigned two Mexican nationals and 4 Nigerians over their alleged involvement within the institution and operation of a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory in a forest in Tapa village, Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The six defendants had been arraigned earlier than Justice Nkeonye Evelyn Maha of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, on a four-count cost bordering on conspiracy, institution of a bootleg drug laboratory and the illegal dealing with of chemical compounds for the manufacturing of methamphetamine.
The defendants are Mexican nationals Jose Villa Ochoa, 56, and Carrera Loaiza Arturo, 40, alongside 4 Nigerians recognized as Maxwell Uche Nevoh, 30; Olatunji Yusuf, 37; Bankole Akeem Owolabi, 45; and Ganiu Monsiu, 43.
According to an announcement by NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi, on Friday, Villa Ochoa and the 4 Nigerians had been arrested on June 17, 2026, by operatives of the company in a forested space of Tapa village.
Arturo was subsequently tracked and arrested on August 19 whereas allegedly trying to flee the nation by the Lagos airport.
The cost alleged that the defendants conspired to function a drug trafficking organisation and established a clandestine laboratory for the manufacturing of methamphetamine between December 2025 and June 2026 at completely different places in Lagos and Oyo States.
They had been additionally accused of unlawfully transporting and distributing chemical substances supposed for the manufacture of the psychotropic drug, opposite to Section 20(1)(f) and punishable underneath Section 20(2)(a) of the NDLEA Act.
All six defendants pleaded not responsible after the costs had been learn to them in a language they understood.
Following their pleas, Justice Maha ordered their remand on the Correctional Centre in Ibadan and adjourned the case till January 26, 27, 28 and 29, 2027, for trial.
The Oyo operation is coming months after NDLEA operatives arrested three different Mexican nationals and 7 Nigerian collaborators over the alleged institution of an analogous methamphetamine laboratory in a forest hideout in Ogun State.
The 10 defendants within the Ogun case had been additionally arraigned earlier than a Federal High Court in Lagos, the place their bail software was rejected and the court docket ordered an accelerated listening to.
The company stated the 2 operations concerned international nationals and Nigerian collaborators allegedly linked to clandestine methamphetamine manufacturing amenities in forest places within the South-West.
