This was contained in a statement issued and signed by the agency’s spokesperson, Mr Mitchell Ofoyeju, in Lagos State. Methamphetamine is a hard drug that is similar to cocaine. According to the statement, those arrested (names withheld) include four Nigerians believed to be joint owners of the said laboratory and four Mexicans, who are methamphetamine production experts, hired as technical partners. “NDLEA has discovered a super methamphetamine laboratory and dislodged a major drug trafficking organisations in the country. “Officials of the Special Enforcement Team (SET) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) made a significant breakthrough with the discovery of a super laboratory for the illicit production of methamphetamine. “This super methamphetamine laboratory similar to the ones found in Mexico is the first to be discovered in the country,” the statement said. The statement quoted the NDLEA chairman, Mr Muhammad Abdallah, as saying that the laboratory had the capacity of producing between 3,000 kilogrammes and 4,000 kilogrammes of methamphetamine per production cycle. “A significant feature of this laboratory is that, the production process is more technical and sophisticated because it uses the synthesis method of methamphetamine production. “All the principal actors linked to this illicit act were apprehended in a simultaneous raid on members of the drug syndicate in Lagos, Obosi in Anambra and at the laboratory in Asaba, Delta,” he said. Abdallah described the operation that led to the arrest of the suspects as a technically undercover assignment, adding that it also led to the dismantling of a drug trafficking organisation. “In a technical undercover operation, four Mexicans were arrested in active production inside the super laboratory. The cartel first brought two Mexican methamphetamine experts to Nigeria. “But because of the size of the laboratory, coupled with the volume of work, two additional Mexicans were added. Our investigation revealed that a successful test production was done at the laboratory in February 2016. “The laboratory was raided while the second production cycle was ongoing. Items recovered at the laboratory include 1.5kg of finished methamphetamine and 750 litres of liquid methamphetamine. “Other items found in the laboratory include industrial pressure pots, gas cylinders, gas burners, facial masks and numerous chemicals. Also recovered in this operation are Toyota Tundra, Mercedes Benz Jeep ML and a Toyota Corolla car,” he said. The agency warned that unless drastic measures were taken against the trend, the rise in super laboratories would put Nigeria on the global spotlight in methamphetamine production. “This is because the laboratory operates at an industrial scale with a high yield of 3,000kg to 4,000kg of methamphetamine per production cycle. Nigeria methamphetamine is now competing with others in Asia and South Africa markets. “The super laboratory does not need ephedrine because it uses the synthesis method. Drug cartels are now shifting from simple method of methamphetamine production to a more complex process. “The discovery calls for celebration, because the operation demonstrates the capacity and preparedness of the agency to track down drug cartels, irrespective of their covert mode of operation. “The threat posed by this laboratory is disturbing because mass production will make the drug easily available, thereby increasing the rate of drug abuse,” he said. According to the statement, more citizens will equally be targeted by drug cartels that are searching for drug smugglers outside the country with the tendency to increase the number of Nigerians in foreign prisons, thereby affecting the image of our country.]]>