Thursday, March, 5 2026 - In a significant blow to international drug trafficking networks, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested a 58-year-old fugitive drug lord Uzoma Valentine Ilomuanya who has been on the wanted list of NDLEA and British authorities for over 15 years.
NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, who confirmed his arrest
in a statement released today March 4, said Ilomuanya was apprehended at a
location in Lagos on Monday, 23rd February 2026, following a high-stake
well-coordinated operation by officers of a Special Operations Unit of the
Agency.
‘’His arrest
ends a long-standing cat-and-mouse game with the law following his long history
of drug related crimes across Nigeria and the United Kingdom, which highlight a
persistent involvement in global narcotics trade.
He was first
arrested in February 2003 and convicted in the United Kingdom for drug
trafficking; sentenced to nine years but was later released after two years in
jail upon appeal. Not done with crime, he was again arrested in the UK in July
2011 for drug-related offences. He was granted administrative bail but jumped
jurisdiction and fled to Nigeria.
Typical of a
recidivist, Ilomuanya was in November 2018 arrested in Nigeria by NDLEA
operatives following the discovery of two clandestine methamphetamine
laboratories in his Obinugwu, Orlu LGA country home in Imo state and at his No.
3 Barrister Declan Uzoma Close Lagos house where officers recovered 77.960
kilograms of methamphetamine and extensive production equipment. He was
subsequently charged before a Federal High Court, Lagos after which he jumped
court bail and has been on the run since then.''the statement read
Reacting to the successful operation leading to Ilomuanya’s
arrest, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba
Marwa (Rtd) described the development as a significant breakthrough in the
Agency’s relentless war against drug cartels.
He said;
"This
arrest serves as a stern warning to those who think they can hide behind
borders to escape justice. Whether you jump bail in London or set up
clandestine labs in your village, the long arm of the NDLEA will eventually
catch up with those who choose to undermine the health, security, and future of
our nation.
We remain
committed to our international collaborations to ensure that Nigeria is not
used as a sanctuary for global drug lords. The NDLEA under our watch will
continue to strengthen intelligence-led operations, deepen international
cooperation, and ensure that those involved in the illicit drug trade are
brought to justice.”
He commended the officers of the Special Operations Unit for
their professionalism, resilience, and diligence in tracking down the fugitive,
stressing that the Agency remains unwavering in its commitment to dismantling
drug trafficking networks operating within Nigeria.
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