NDLEA declares drug kingpin, three others wanted, freezes N9.8bn, seizes assets

By Adebola Isimijola, Lagos

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has declared an alleged drug kingpin, Nnamuka Kelvin Uchenna, popularly known as Odogwu, and three of his associates wanted over their alleged involvement in the operation of a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory, as the agency froze bank accounts containing over N9.8 billion linked to the syndicate.

The anti-narcotics agency also secured interim forfeiture of a filling station, multi-storey residential buildings and four Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) believed to be proceeds of illicit drug trafficking, in what it described as a major blow to the financial network of the cartel.

The development was disclosed on Friday by the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, who said the suspects were declared wanted following an order granted by Justice Iniekenimi Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court, Owerri, Imo State, after an application filed by the agency on July 3, 2026.

The other wanted suspects are Emmanuella Chinonso Iroka, Nnamuka Ifeanyi Kingsley and Ekechi Franklin Chijioke, also known as Ekene Okwunaga.

Babafemi said the court order followed investigations into a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory uncovered by NDLEA operatives at Isiozi, Umuaka, in Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State on February 25, 2026, where 18.4 kilograms of methamphetamine and other production materials were recovered.

He added that forensic investigations linked the four suspects to the illegal laboratory, but they went into hiding after the discovery.

According to the agency, forensic analysis also led to the freezing of bank accounts linked to the suspects with a combined balance of N9,840,873,566.66, while interim forfeiture orders were obtained over a filling station, multi-storey residential buildings and four SUVs with registration numbers RLU 148 AJ, KJA 563 FZ, BWR 249 DY and FST 208 HU.

Reacting to the breakthrough, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), said the operation underscored the agency’s determination to dismantle drug trafficking networks and cripple the financial structures sustaining them.

“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 assured that the agency would continue to deploy financial and forensic intelligence to trace illicit assets and bring all fleeing suspects to justice, while urging Nigerians with useful information on their whereabouts to report to the nearest NDLEA office.