OGUN STATE, NIGERIA – Special agents of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency of Nigeria (NDLEA) have broken down what it is calling the largest ever secret methamphetamine lab in Nigeria, which was concealed within a forest in Ogun State.
This action was carried out following an order of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi to destroy the site due to health and environmental hazards. The video captures how the secret lab was dismantled as the forensic officers in protective suits lifted barrels and bags of chemicals, analysed the samples and cut down large lab equipment for disposal.
“As directed by the order of the Federal High Court of Ikoyi, the lab which we identified some weeks ago is to be dismantled for environmental safety and the health of the staff,” said Patricia Afolabi, Director of Forensics at NDLEA. Several precursor chemicals have been retrieved, including organic and acidic solvents, salts, and crystals.
James Talba, the Deputy Inspector General of the Narcotics Department of NDLEA, indicated that the mega-factory was being used mainly to facilitate international drug trafficking. “Whatever is produced in this place is not for domestic consumption in Nigeria. It is for exportation, and mostly they export the substances to Europe,” Talba elaborated.
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the West African region has become an important production and transit point for extremely potent synthetic amphetamine-type stimulants such as methamphetamine. It was observed that the drug cartels were using advanced techniques to avoid detection.
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