The Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State, has ordered the remand of two Mexican nationals and four Nigerians over their alleged involvement in an illegal methamphetamine laboratory discovered in Tapa village, Ibarapa North Local Government Area of the state.
The six defendants, identified as Jose Villa Ochoa, Carrera Loaiza Arturo, Maxwell Uche Nevoh, Olatunji Yusuf, Bankole Akeem Owolabi and Ganiu Monsiu, were arraigned before the court on four counts bordering on the alleged unlawful transportation and distribution of chemicals intended for the production of methamphetamine.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) disclosed the development in a statement issued on Friday, November 6, through its spokesperson, Femi Babafemi.
According to the agency, all six defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against them.
Following their pleas, Justice Nkeonye Evelyn Maha ordered that they be remanded at a correctional facility in Ibadan pending further proceedings in the case.
The NDLEA said Jose Villa Ochoa and the four Nigerian defendants were arrested on June 17, 2026, in connection with the alleged drug manufacturing operation.
The second Mexican national, Carrera Loaiza Arturo, was arrested separately on August 19, 2026, at the Lagos airport while allegedly attempting to leave Nigeria.
The agency had earlier accused Ochoa of being brought into the country to provide technical expertise for the production of methamphetamine on a large scale. The four Nigerian defendants were allegedly responsible for logistics and local operations connected to the suspected laboratory.
Methamphetamine, commonly known as crystal meth, is a highly addictive synthetic stimulant associated with serious health and social consequences. Its production often involves dangerous chemicals that can pose significant risks to surrounding communities and the environment.
The alleged discovery of the laboratory in Tapa village formed part of the NDLEA‘s efforts to dismantle drug manufacturing and trafficking networks operating within the country.
In a separate operation in September 2026, the agency also announced the discovery of what it described as an industrial-scale methamphetamine laboratory in Ebonyi State.
The latest court action marks a further stage in the prosecution of the six suspects, who will remain in custody as the case proceeds.
The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.