NDLEA Arrests Fugitive Drug Kingpin Wanted for 15 Years in Nigeria, UK

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 58-year-old suspected drug kingpin, Uzoma Valentine Ilomuanya, who had been on the wanted list of Nigerian and British authorities for more than 15 years.
Ilomuanya was apprehended in Lagos on Monday, February 23, 2026, during a coordinated operation by the agency’s Special Operations Unit, bringing to an end a prolonged manhunt that spanned Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
According to the agency, the suspect has a long record of drug-related offences in both countries. He was first arrested and convicted in the UK in February 2003 for drug trafficking and sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment but was released after serving two years following a successful appeal. In July 2011, he was again arrested in the UK on drug charges, granted administrative bail, and later fled to Nigeria.
In November 2018, NDLEA operatives re-arrested him in Nigeria after uncovering two clandestine methamphetamine laboratories — one in his hometown of Obinugwu, Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State, and another at his Lagos residence. Officers reportedly recovered 77.960 kilograms of methamphetamine and production equipment. He was subsequently arraigned before a Federal High Court in Lagos but later jumped bail and remained at large until his recent capture.
Reacting to the arrest, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Buba Marwa, described the development as a significant breakthrough in the agency’s sustained crackdown on drug trafficking networks.
Marwa said the operation demonstrates that individuals involved in illicit drug activities cannot escape justice by crossing borders or evading bail. He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to intelligence-driven operations and strengthened international collaboration to prevent Nigeria from serving as a refuge for drug cartels.
He also commended the Special Operations Unit for its diligence and professionalism in tracking down the fugitive, stressing that the agency remains steadfast in its campaign against narcotics trafficking.
The statement was signed by Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, on Wednesday, March 4, 2026.