In a twist that seems straight out of the Breaking Bad storyline, the United States government has confirmed that the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), one of Mexico’s most dangerous criminal organizations, was operating a large-scale methamphetamine production lab in Kenya.
This is the cartel’s first confirmed presence in East Africa, indicating a troubling expansion of its global operations according to a new report.
The lab, located in Namanga near the Kenya-Tanzania border, was dismantled in September 2024 following a coordinated multi-agency raid.
The operation, hailed as a major victory in the fight against international drug trafficking, was detailed in the International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, which was published in March 2025.
“A major accomplishment in 2024 was the multiagency seizure of a large-scale methamphetamine production lab in Namanga, Kenya,” the report stated.
“The lab was linked to the Mexican Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) and represents the first confirmed large-scale operation by a Mexican cartel in Kenya.”
CJNG’s foray into Kenya underscores the country’s growing importance as a transit point for international drug trafficking.
According to the US government, Kenya’s strategic location along the East African coast makes it an ideal hub for smuggling narcotics to Europe, the Arabian Peninsula, and beyond.
Despite a reported drop in hard drug seizures in recent years, US officials believe this is a deliberate strategy by traffickers to manipulate market prices and maximize profits.
The Namanga-based meth lab was cleverly hidden within a simple iron-sheet structure, allowing the cartel to operate discreetly. Its proximity to the Tanzanian border allowed for easy access to regional and international smuggling routes.
Authorities are still looking into whether the drugs produced were intended for domestic consumption or export to lucrative overseas markets.
The September 2024 raid resulted in the arrest and prosecution of four individuals: Mexican national Israel Alvarado Vera, Nigerian nationals Egwu Ogba Mba and Ojukwu Awu (alias “Pastor”), and Kenyan citizen Betty Mukami Micheni.
The suspects were charged with possessing precursor chemicals used in methamphetamine production, such as methylamine 40%, ethanol, phenylacetone 99%, tartaric acid, sodium hydroxide, acetone, and toluene.
Additionally, they faced charges related to the ownership of land suspected to be proceeds of crime.
Egwu Ogba Mba was also charged with illegal residency in Kenya. The prosecution, led by Counsel Ligami Shitsama, presented evidence that the accused operated the lab between March 15, 2024, and September 12, 2024, in Ololepo village within Oloililai Sub-County, Kajiado.
The United States has been instrumental in bolstering Kenya’s counter-narcotics capabilities through the establishment of a Sensitive Investigations Unit (SIU) in partnership with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
According to the report, the SIU received advanced training, cutting-edge equipment, and logistical support, which helped to quickly dismantle the meth lab.
The CJNG, or Jalisco New Generation Cartel, is Mexico’s second most powerful and violent transnational criminal organization.
CJNG, formed from the remnants of the Milenio Cartel, has gained notoriety for its extreme brutality, military-grade weaponry, and strategic global expansion.
Despite the capture of some of its leaders, the cartel remains a powerful force in Mexico and elsewhere. CJNG was founded in 2010 after the death of Ignacio Coronel, a high-ranking Sinaloa Cartel leader known as “Nacho.”
Coronel was closely linked to the Milenio Cartel, which controlled drug shipments and finances in Jalisco, Colima, Michoacán, and Mexico City.
Following Coronel’s death, a power struggle within the Milenio Cartel resulted in the split of two factions: “La Resistencia” and “Los Torcidos.” The latter, led by Nemesio Oseguera Ramos, aka “El Mencho,” eventually evolved into CJNG.
Under El Mencho’s leadership, CJNG became synonymous with extreme violence, including mass killings, enforced disappearances, and brutal clashes with rival cartels like Los Zetas.
The group has carried out high-profile attacks, such as an ambush of 15 Mexican police officers in 2015 and the downing of a military helicopter.
Its influence has extended far beyond Mexico, to the United States, Europe, and now Africa.
