The agency arrested two alleged kingpins identified as 45-year-old Chukwu Obumneme Christopher, also known as Brown, and 60-year-old Chukwu Georginus Monday, alias George, following months of intelligence gathering and surveillance.
NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said the suspects allegedly operated the laboratory in partnership with Rodriguez Villanueva, a suspected member of a Mexican drug cartel based in Mexico City.
Babafemi said the suspects were arraigned before the Federal High Court, Enugu Judicial Division, on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, organising, managing and financing a drug trafficking organisation, as well as unlawful possession of precursor chemicals used in methamphetamine production.
According to him, the charges were filed under the provisions of the NDLEA Act.
The suspects pleaded to the charges, following which the presiding judge, Justice Segun-Bello, fixed October 21 for trial after the NDLEA applied for an accelerated hearing.
Three other individuals named in the charge are currently at large. They are identified as Uchenna, alias Uche; Celestine Ikemefuna Iwuchukwu; and Rodriguez Villanueva.
A search of the clandestine laboratory reportedly led to the recovery of large quantities of chemicals and other substances allegedly intended for methamphetamine production.
Items recovered included 690 litres of methylamine, 1,000 litres of isopropyl alcohol, 300 litres of hydrochloric acid, 290 litres each of toluene and acetone, 400 litres of liquid sodium hydroxide, 125kg of N-phenylacetamide, 414kg of lead acetate and 769.6kg of tartaric acid.
The NDLEA said the recovered materials were consistent with a P2P-based methamphetamine manufacturing operation.
A related search of George’s family residence also resulted in the recovery of eight large fuel tanks, four commercial gas burners, four dehydrators and 11kg of ephedrine.
The agency said the arrests and seizure represented a significant disruption to the alleged cartel’s operations and further investigation is ongoing to locate the other suspects linked to the drug network.
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