NDLEA Nabs Fugitive Drug Kingpin After 15 Years on the Run

Nigeria’s anti-narcotics agency Known as NDLEA has arrested a suspected drug kingpin who had evaded authorities for more than a decade, marking a major development in the country’s fight against illicit drug trafficking. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) confirmed the arrest of 58-year-old Uzoma Valentine Ilomuanya, who had been on the agency’s wanted list and was also sought by authorities in the United Kingdom.

According to the NDLEA, Ilomuanya was apprehended in Lagos on Monday, February 23, 2026, during a coordinated operation carried out by officers from the agency’s Special Operations Unit. The arrest follows years of investigations into his alleged involvement in drug trafficking activities spanning both Nigeria and the United Kingdom.

Officials say the operation brings to an end a prolonged effort to track down a suspect believed to have been deeply involved in the global narcotics trade while repeatedly evading law enforcement.

Long History of Drug-Related Offences

In a statement issued by NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, the agency revealed that Ilomuanya’s alleged criminal activities date back more than two decades and involve multiple encounters with law enforcement agencies.

According to the statement, the suspect was first arrested and convicted in the United Kingdom in February 2003 for drug trafficking. He was sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment but was released after serving two years following a successful appeal.

Babafemi added that Ilomuanya was again arrested in the UK in July 2011 over another drug-related case. Although he was granted administrative bail at the time, authorities say he jumped bail and fled to Nigeria, effectively evading prosecution abroad.

Discovery of Methamphetamine Laboratories

The NDLEA also disclosed that the suspect had previously been arrested in Nigeria in November 2018 during a major anti-drug operation that uncovered two clandestine methamphetamine laboratories.

One of the laboratories was discovered at his residence in Lagos, while another was located at his country home in Obinugwu, in Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State. During the raid, operatives reportedly recovered 77.960 kilograms of methamphetamine alongside equipment used for the production of illicit drugs.

Following the operation, Ilomuanya was charged before a Federal High Court in Lagos. However, after being granted bail, he reportedly absconded, prompting the NDLEA to declare him wanted and intensify efforts to track him down.

NDLEA Hails Arrest as Major Breakthrough

Reacting to the arrest, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Buba Marwa, described the development as a significant achievement in the agency’s ongoing campaign against drug trafficking networks.

Marwa said the successful operation demonstrated the effectiveness of intelligence-led enforcement and the importance of collaboration with international partners. He noted that such partnerships are critical to preventing Nigeria from being used as a hub for global drug trafficking operations.

The NDLEA chairman also commended officers of the Special Operations Unit for their persistence in tracking the fugitive over the years and reiterated the agency’s determination to dismantle drug syndicates operating within and beyond Nigeria’s borders.

The arrest comes only days after the NDLEA announced the capture of another suspected drug kingpin, Reginald Chidiebere, who had allegedly been in hiding for 13 years over involvement in cocaine and heroin trafficking. The agency said the back-to-back arrests highlight intensified efforts to clamp down on high-profile narcotics suspects.