Key Takeaways

• Six defendants arraigned: Two Mexican nationals and four Nigerians appeared before the Federal High Court in Ibadan.
• Alleged laboratory operation: The case concerns a suspected methamphetamine production facility in Tapa village, Oyo State.
• Five initial arrests: One Mexican national and four Nigerians were arrested on June 17, 2026.
• Second Mexican arrested: Carrera Loaiza Arturo was arrested at Lagos airport on August 19, 2026.
• Four-count charge: The defendants face allegations involving conspiracy, clandestine drug production and the transportation and distribution of chemicals.
• Not-guilty pleas: All six defendants denied the charges.
• Court-ordered remand: The defendants were ordered to remain at the Correctional Centre in Ibadan.
• Trial dates fixed: The case is scheduled to continue from January 26 to January 29, 2027.
• Related Ogun case: Ten other individuals, including three Mexican nationals and seven Nigerians, were reportedly arraigned over a similar alleged offence.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arraigned two Mexican nationals and four Nigerians before the Federal High Court in Ibadan over their alleged involvement in the establishment and operation of a methamphetamine laboratory in Oyo State.

The six defendants appeared before Justice Nkeonye Evelyn Maha following investigations into an alleged drug production facility discovered in a forested area of Tapa village, Ibarapa North Local Government Area.

The case involves allegations of conspiracy, the establishment of a clandestine drug laboratory and the transportation and distribution of chemical substances allegedly intended for the production of methamphetamine.

How NDLEA Arrested the Six Defendants

According to a statement issued by the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the agency arrested five of the defendants during an operation in Tapa village on Wednesday, June 17, 2026.

Those arrested included 56-year-old Mexican national Jose Villa Ochoa and four Nigerian nationals identified as Maxwell Uche Nevoh, 30; Olatunji Yusuf, 37; Bankole Akeem Owolabi, 45; and Ganiu Monsiu, 43.

The arrests reportedly took place in a forested area of Tapa village, where the suspects were allegedly involved in the establishment and operation of a clandestine methamphetamine production laboratory.

The second Mexican national, 40-year-old Carrera Loaiza Arturo, was subsequently tracked down and arrested on August 19, 2026, while allegedly attempting to leave Nigeria through the Lagos airport.

His arrest brought the number of defendants in the case to six, comprising two Mexican nationals and four Nigerians.

What the NDLEA Charges Say About the Alleged Drug Laboratory

The four-count charge filed by the NDLEA accused the defendants of conspiring to operate a drug trafficking organisation and establishing a clandestine laboratory for the production of methamphetamine.

The agency alleged that the offences occurred between December 2025 and June 2026 at different locations in Lagos and Oyo States.

The defendants were also accused of unlawfully engaging in the transportation and distribution of chemical substances for the purpose of manufacturing methamphetamine, a psychotropic substance.

The charge cited Section 20(1)(f) of the NDLEA Act, with punishment provided under Section 20(2)(a).

These allegations formed the basis of the prosecution’s case against the six defendants before the Federal High Court in Ibadan.

Six Defendants Plead Not Guilty as Court Orders Remand

When the charges were read to the defendants in a language they understood, all six pleaded not guilty to the allegations.

Following their pleas, Justice Nkeonye Evelyn Maha ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Correctional Centre in Ibadan.

The court subsequently adjourned the matter to January 26, 27, 28 and 29, 2027, for trial.

The scheduled dates will allow the court to begin hearing the case and consider the allegations brought against the defendants by the NDLEA.

The defendants’ not-guilty pleas mean that the allegations remain subject to determination by the court.

Related NDLEA Operation Involving Mexicans and Nigerians in Ogun

The Oyo State case follows another NDLEA operation involving Mexican nationals and Nigerian collaborators in Ogun State.

Three other Mexican nationals and seven Nigerians were reportedly arrested during an operation at a forest hideout in Ogun State on Saturday, May 16, 2026.

The group was subsequently arraigned before a Federal High Court in Lagos over a similar alleged offence.

According to the report, the trial judge rejected their bail application and ordered an accelerated hearing of the case. The defendants were also remanded in custody.

The two cases highlight separate investigations involving alleged clandestine drug production activities in southwestern Nigeria.

What Happens Next in the Oyo Methamphetamine Laboratory Case?

The six defendants are expected to return to the Federal High Court in Ibadan when proceedings resume on January 26, 2027.

The trial is scheduled to continue across four consecutive dates: January 26, 27, 28 and 29.

The NDLEA will have the opportunity to present its case, while the defendants will be entitled to respond to the allegations through the legal process.

Until the court reaches a decision, the six defendants remain accused persons who have pleaded not guilty.

The proceedings will determine the outcome of the charges concerning the alleged methamphetamine laboratory in Tapa village and the defendants’ alleged roles in the operation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How many people did the NDLEA arraign over the alleged methamphetamine laboratory in Oyo?

The NDLEA arraigned six defendants: two Mexican nationals and four Nigerians.

2. Where was the alleged methamphetamine laboratory discovered?

The alleged clandestine laboratory was linked to a forested area of Tapa village in Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo State.

3. Who are the two Mexican nationals involved in the case?

The two Mexican nationals are Jose Villa Ochoa, 56, and Carrera Loaiza Arturo, 40.

4. When were the defendants arrested?

Five defendants were arrested on June 17, 2026, in Tapa village. The second Mexican national was arrested on August 19, 2026, at Lagos airport while allegedly attempting to leave the country.

5. What charges are the defendants facing?

The four-count charge includes allegations of conspiracy to operate a drug trafficking organisation, establishing a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory and unlawfully transporting and distributing chemicals intended for methamphetamine production.

6. Did the defendants plead guilty?

No. All six defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them in a language they understood.

7. Where are the defendants being held?

The court ordered that the six defendants be remanded at the Correctional Centre in Ibadan.

8. When will the trial begin?

The case was adjourned to January 26, 27, 28 and 29, 2027, for trial.

9. Was there a similar NDLEA operation in Ogun State?

Yes. Three Mexican nationals and seven Nigerians were reportedly arrested in a separate operation at a forest hideout in Ogun State on May 16, 2026, and subsequently arraigned in Lagos.