By Ajibola Olaide, JKNewsMedia Reporter
DRUG TRAFICKING investigations have led the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to declare a drug kingpin, Nnamuka Kelvin Uchenna, also known as Odogwu, and three associates wanted over their alleged involvement in the establishment of a clandestine laboratory, production of methamphetamine and drug money laundering.
JKNewsMedia.com reports that the NDLEA identified the other suspects as Emmanuella Chinonso Iroka, Nnamuka Ifeanyi Kingsley and Ekechi Franklin Chijioke, also known as Ekene Okwunaga.
The agency also said the suspects were declared wanted following an order by Justice Iniekenimi Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court, Owerri, Imo State, after an application filed by the agency in suit number FHC/OW/CS/22/2026 on 3 July 2026.
The declaration followed the discovery of a clandestine laboratory producing methamphetamine at Isiozi in Umuaka, Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State on 25 February 2026, where NDLEA operatives recovered 18.4 kilograms of the illicit substance and other items.
It said investigations later linked the wanted suspects to the laboratory and that they have since gone into hiding.
NDLEA said forensic investigations into the methamphetamine syndicate led to the freezing of bank accounts linked to the wanted suspects with a combined balance of N9,840,873,566.66.
The agency also secured interim forfeiture orders covering assets owned by members of the syndicate, including a filling station, multi storey residential buildings and four sport utility vehicles with registration numbers RLU 148 AJ, KJA 563 FZ, BWR 249 DY and FST 208 HU.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa, retired, commended the officers and operatives involved in the operation, describing it as a clear demonstration of the agency’s resolve to dismantle drug trafficking networks and disrupt the financial architecture that sustains them.
Marwa said, “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.
“The discovery of this clandestine methamphetamine laboratory in Njaba, and the subsequent freezing of nearly ten billion naira in illicit funds, alongside the forfeiture of a filling station, multi storey buildings and four exotic SUVs, sends 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.
“I want to assure Nigerians that the Agency will not relent in going after the fleeing suspects and anyone else linked to this 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.
“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.”
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