The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has declared an alleged drug kingpin, Nnamuka Kelvin Uchenna, also known as Odogwu, and three of his associates wanted.
They are wanted over their alleged involvement in operating a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory, producing illicit drugs and laundering proceeds from the criminal enterprise.
The agency also announced that it had frozen bank accounts linked to the suspects containing N9.84 billion and secured interim forfeiture orders on multi-billion-naira assets, including a filling station, residential buildings and four luxury Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs).
This was disclosed in a statement by the Director of Media and Advocacy at the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, on Friday, July 17.
According to the agency, the other suspects declared wanted are Emmanuella Chinonso Iroka, Nnamuka Ifeanyi Kingsley and Ekechi Franklin Chijioke, also known as Ekene Okwunaga.
Babafemi said the suspects were declared wanted following an order granted by Justice Iniekenimi Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court in Owerri, Imo State, after an application filed by the NDLEA in suit number FHC/OW/CS/22/2026 on July 3, 2026.
He explained that the court order followed the discovery of a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory at Isiozi in Umuaka, Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State on February 25, 2026, where NDLEA operatives recovered 18.4 kilograms of methamphetamine alongside other exhibits.
According to the statement, investigations later linked the four suspects to the illegal laboratory, but they have since gone into hiding.
The agency further revealed that forensic investigations traced multiple bank accounts linked to members of the syndicate, leading to the freezing of funds with a combined balance of N9,840,873,566.66.
It added that it had also obtained interim forfeiture orders covering assets allegedly acquired through proceeds of drug trafficking, including a filling station, multi-storey residential buildings and four SUVs bearing registration numbers RLU 148 AJ, KJA 563 FZ, BWR 249 DY and FST 208 HU.
Reacting to the operation, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), said the agency would continue to dismantle drug trafficking networks and target their financial structures.
“This latest operation reaffirms our unwavering commitment to tracking down drug kingpins and their collaborators, no matter how sophisticated their network or how long they attempt to evade justice,” Marwa said.
He added that the seizure of the clandestine methamphetamine laboratory, the freezing of nearly N10 billion in suspected illicit funds and the forfeiture of valuable assets sent “an unambiguous message that the illegal drug business is no longer a safe haven for criminals seeking to launder their ill-gotten wealth through legitimate enterprises.”
Marwa assured Nigerians that the agency would intensify efforts to apprehend the fleeing suspects and anyone linked to the syndicate.
“We will continue to deploy financial and forensic intelligence to trace, freeze and forfeit assets acquired through drug trafficking, just as we will not hesitate to invoke the full weight of the law against fugitives who think they can hide from justice,” he said.
The NDLEA boss also appealed to members of the public to provide credible information that could lead to the arrest of the wanted suspects
“I appeal to members of the public with useful information on the whereabouts of the wanted suspects to volunteer such information to the nearest NDLEA office or through our confidential lines, as we remain committed to ridding our communities of the scourge of drug trafficking and its attendant social and economic harm,” Marwa stated.
