LAGOS, Nigeria – Africa is becoming a new frontier for Mexican drug cartels, with operations now established in South Africa and Nigeria to feed international demand, an AFP investigation has revealed.

Mexican cartels are setting up operations in parts of Africa – including South Africa and Nigeria – to feed the demand for drugs in Europe, South-East Asia and Oceania.

Nigeria’s anti-drug agency said on Thursday it had arrested two men for allegedly operating a methamphetamine laboratory, the latest in a series of high-profile crackdowns on drug operations that authorities say are linked to Mexican cartels.

It is Nigeria’s fourth bust of large-scale production laboratories since May – all linked to Mexicans – raising concerns that Latin American cartels are establishing roots in Africa’s most populous country to produce and ship out methamphetamine.

West Africa has emerged in recent years as a transit point for drugs from South America to Europe, mostly cocaine.

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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said in a statement that Chukwu Obumneme Christopher (45) and Chukwu Georginus Monday (60) operated the laboratory in partnership with “notorious Mexican drug cartel member” Rodriguez Villanueva.

“Vast quantities of precursor chemicals” were discovered at the makeshift laboratory in Obeagu town in Awgu district of south-eastern Enugu State, Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesman, said.

The trial of the two men, who have already appeared in court, continues on 21 October. Villanueva, who has left the country, and two other Nigerians who are still at large were also charged in court.

At least five Mexicans have been arrested in Nigeria since May in connection with methamphetamine laboratory operations, Babafemi told AFP.