The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has disclosed that a precursor chemical capable of being used in the production of fentanyl was discovered during the dismantling of a large-scale methamphetamine laboratory hidden in a forest in Ogun State.
The discovery followed a raid conducted by NDLEA operatives in May 2026 on an industrial-scale methamphetamine laboratory located in a deep forest spanning the Abidagba and Iroto communities in Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State.
The operation led to the arrest of 10 suspects, including three Mexican nationals and seven Nigerians, as well as the seizure of about 2.4 tonnes of methamphetamine and other chemicals valued at more than ₦480 billion.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), said the fentanyl-related precursor was identified after forensic analysis of chemicals recovered from the illegal laboratory.
Marwa disclosed this while receiving the Country Director of the United States International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Bureau (INL), Derek Tolliver, who led a delegation of the US Government Accountability Office to the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja.
He said the discovery was made possible through modern forensic equipment provided to the agency with the support of the US INL. According to him, the precursor chemical formed only a small part of the substances recovered during the operation and could have gone unnoticed without the advanced forensic tools.
Marwa said the discovery underscored the importance of strengthening the agency’s forensic capacity, particularly in identifying illicit drugs and precursor chemicals recovered during investigations.
He noted that with support from the US government, the INL had modernised the NDLEA forensic laboratory in Lagos and supported the establishment of additional laboratories in Abuja and Enugu to expand the agency’s capacity for drug and chemical analysis.
The NDLEA chairman described the laboratories as critical to the agency’s law enforcement operations and commended the US government and its agencies, including the INL, Drug Enforcement Administration, AFRICOM and the FBI, for their continued support.
Earlier, Tolliver congratulated Marwa and the NDLEA on the agency’s recent operational successes, describing the organisation’s growth under his leadership as remarkable.
He said his visit was aimed at strengthening the existing partnership between the US government and the NDLEA and building on previous programmes supported by the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Bureau.
Tolliver assured the agency of continued US support and commitment to advancing joint efforts against illicit drug production, trafficking and related crimes.
