See Faces of the 4 Mexicans and 5 Nigerians Nabbed for Running Meth Lab in Asaba (Photos)

Castillo Barraza Cristobal, Cervantos Madrid Jose Bruno, Chibi Aruh 

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arraigned four Mexicans and five Nigerians for allegedly operating a super laboratory for the illicit production of methamphetamine located at Asaba, Delta State.

Those arrested include four (5) Nigerians believed to be joint owners of the laboratory and four Mexicans who are methamphetamine production experts hired as technical partners into the country.


The NDLEA boss gave the names of the suspects are; Anthony Chukwuemeka Umolu a.k.a. Onwa Obosi, Chief Chibi Aruh, Izuchukwu Anieto, Cervantes Madrid Jose Bruno, Rivas Ruiz Pasiano, Castillo Barraza Cristobal, Partida Gonzalez Pedro, William Ejike Agusi and Augustine Kosisochukwu Umolu.

Ejike Agusi William, Partida Gonzalez Pedro, Rivas Ruiz Pastiano 

They were also accused of illegal extraction of ephedrine, preparation of methamphetamine and unlawful possession of 1.5kg of methamphetamine; a drug similar to cocaine, heroin, LSD contrary to NDLEA Act, Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

The Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Col. Muhammad Mustapher Abdallah (rtd), described the operation as technical undercover assignment leading to the dismantling of a drug trafficking organization.

"In a technical undercover operation, four Mexicans were arrested in active production exercise inside the super laboratory. The cartel first brought two Mexican methamphetamine experts, Cervantos Madrid Jose Bruno and Rivas Ruiz Pastiano to Nigeria but because of the size of the laboratory coupled with the volume of work, two additional Mexicans, Castillo Barraza Cristobal and Partida Gonzalez Pedro were added.

Our investigation revealed that a successful test production was done at the laboratory in February 2016."

Umolu Chukwuemeka, Umolu Kosisochukwu 

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. The threat posed by this laboratory is disturbing because mass production will make the drug easily available thereby increasing the rate of abuse.

More citizens will equally be targeted by drug cartels that are searching for drug mules to smuggle drugs outside the country. This has the tendency to increase the number of Nigerians in foreign prisons thereby affecting the image of our country.

Methamphetamine laboratories pose a serious threat to humanity because of the toxic nature of chemicals used. Methamphetamine dump pollutes the environment. This is because for every one pound of methamphetamine produced, about three to six pounds of toxic waste is created.

Click here to read the full press statement on NDLEA's website.