NDLEA Arrests Mexican Drug Kingpin at Lagos Airport
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested Mexican methamphetamine kingpin Arturo Carrera Loaiza at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on August 19, 2026, as he attempted to leave Nigeria. Brigadier General Buba Marwa (rtd), Chairman and CEO of NDLEA, announced the arrest during a media briefing.
The agency also dismantled an industrial-scale methamphetamine laboratory in Ebonyi State, following months of intelligence gathering on an international drug cartel operating secret labs in Ogun, Oyo, and Ebonyi states. Earlier, on May 16, 2026, three Mexicans and seven Nigerian accomplices were arrested in Ogun.
On June 17, 2026, another Mexican, 56-year-old Jose Villa Ochoa, was apprehended in Oyo State. Investigations revealed Ochoa was recruited by Loaiza, who entered Nigeria on June 10, 2026, with Jose Ceballos Perez.
Digital forensic analysis uncovered evidence linking Loaiza to meth production, leading to further raids and the recovery of methamphetamine precursors and equipment.
Plus234Feed summary based on reporting from Leadership Newspaper. Read the original report below.
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