The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has arrested a suspected Mexican drug kingpin and dismantled an industrial-scale methamphetamine laboratory in Ebonyi State.

The suspect, identified as Mexican national Arturo Carrera Loaiza, was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos while allegedly trying to leave Nigeria.

The NDLEA said Loaiza was linked to a transnational drug syndicate behind several clandestine methamphetamine laboratories uncovered in different parts of the country.

According to the agency, investigations revealed that Loaiza allegedly recruited another Mexican national, Jose Villa Ochoa, who was earlier arrested at a meth laboratory in Oyo State.

Investigators later traced Loaiza to a property under construction in Isiata Ugoni Okposi, Ebonyi State, after analysing metadata from photographs recovered during the investigation.

A raid on the property on August 30 uncovered structures, chemicals and equipment allegedly connected to methamphetamine production. CCTV footage reportedly showed Loaiza and a Nigerian suspect, John Samuel Ivo Okike, moving chemicals and laboratory equipment.

The NDLEA said investigations are ongoing to identify and arrest other members, financiers and collaborators allegedly connected to the drug network.