Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court, Lagos, has fixed Friday, July 24, for ruling on an application by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, seeking an order to destroy a clandestine Nigerian-Mexican methamphetamine production laboratory uncovered in Ogun State.
The judge fixed the date after conducting a special court sitting inside the laboratory located at Mowe village, in Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State.
The NDLEA had on July 10 arraigned 10 suspects – three Mexican nationals and seven Nigerians, over the alleged establishment and operation of the large-scale drug laboratory.
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.
They were arraigned on an 11-count charge bordering on conspiracy, manufacturing, possession, and financing of illicit drugs.
According to the NDLEA, the syndicate allegedly manufactured and possessed 2,419.48 kilograms of methamphetamine, a psychotropic substance classified alongside cocaine, heroin and LSD, with an estimated street value of over N480 billion.
The anti-narcotics agency also alleged that the defendants managed and financed a drug trafficking organisation and transported precursor chemicals from Lagos to the forest laboratory using a Toyota Tacoma, a Mercedes-Benz with registration number APP 942 YL, and a Toyota Highlander marked GWA 662 DJ.
The precursor chemicals allegedly recovered include 358 kilograms of toluene, 1,834 kilograms of hydrochloric acid and 22.5 kilograms of acetone, as well as phenyl-2-propanone (P2P) and phenylacetic acid.
But the defendants pleaded not guilty.
All 10 defendants pleaded not guilty. During the proceedings held inside the laboratory, the prosecution’s first witness, clandestine laboratory expert Mr Ajilema Anebi, testified and tendered exhibits relating to equipment and chemicals recovered from the site.
Anebi told the court that the substances recovered from the facility, where the 2nd to 8th defendants were arrested, were used for the production and storage of large quantities of methamphetamine intended for export outside Nigeria. He said the substances were identified after scientific analysis conducted by his team.
He also explained to the court the role of alcohol and hydrochloric acid in methamphetamine production, including the production of benzene. The inventory of chemicals and equipment recovered had earlier been admitted in evidence.
The counsel for the NDLEA, Adekunle Adebanjo, reminded the court of the pending application seeking leave to destroy the multi-million-dollar laboratory.
However, the counsel for the defendants, led by Chief Benson Ndakara, opposed aspects of the evidence and raised objections to some exhibits tendered.
Justice Kakaki subsequently adjourned the matter to July 24 for ruling on the NDLEA’s application for destruction.