Mexican drug cartels outsource meth production to Nigeria
Nigerian authorities have uncovered the country's largest meth lab, linked to Mexican cartels, highlighting Africa's growing role in synthetic drug manufacturing.
In May, Nigeria's National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) raided a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory in a dense forest in Ogun State, arresting three Mexicans and seven Nigerians. The operation, described as the country's biggest-ever meth bust, seized over two tonnes of the drug worth an estimated $360 million. A federal high court judge held a hearing at the site to inspect the scale of the operation, an unusual step for Nigeria's judiciary.
Authorities found a makeshift lab with large drums of liquid meth crystallising, open vats of crude methamphetamine, propane gas cylinders, and caustic soda. The NDLEA called it a "highly sophisticated, multi-million-dollar Nigerian-Mexican methamphetamine production syndicate." A month later, another lab was found in Oyo State, with five suspects including a Mexican "meth expert."
These raids reflect a broader trend: Mexican drug cartels, particularly the Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation Cartels, are expanding production into Africa. Since 2023, 14 Mexican-operated labs have been raided across the continent, according to U.S. Africa Command (Africom), which provided intelligence. Four of the five labs discovered this year were in Nigeria.
West Africa offers several advantages: forested areas for concealment, a large youth population for cheap labor, and growing local demand. A 2018 survey found that 14.4% of Nigerian adults had used illicit drugs—more than double the global average. Meth use is also rising in East and Southern Africa.
Mexican cartels are feeling pressure from intensified U.S. enforcement under President Donald Trump, pushing them to diversify. Africa provides access to Atlantic shipping routes to Europe and Asia, where meth seizures are at record highs. NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi stated that the agency is committed to preventing Nigeria from becoming a safe haven, but experts warn that cartels are becoming more entrenched on the continent.
