Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested 58-year-old fugitive drug kingpin, Uzoma Ilomuanya, after more than 15 years of evading justice.
Ilomuanya, who had been on the wanted list of both the NDLEA and British authorities, was apprehended on Monday, February 23, 2026, in Lagos during a meticulously coordinated operation by the agency’s Special Operations Unit.
The notorious drug trafficker’s criminal record stretches across Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
He was first arrested in London in 2003 and convicted for drug trafficking, serving two years of a nine-year sentence before being released on appeal.
In 2011, he was again arrested in the UK for drug offences but absconded after being granted bail, fleeing to Nigeria.
In November 2018, NDLEA operatives uncovered two clandestine methamphetamine laboratories linked to him—one in his hometown of Obinugwu in Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State, and another in Lagos.
The bust yielded nearly 78 kilograms of methamphetamine and extensive production equipment.
Charged before a Federal High Court in Lagos, Ilomuanya jumped bail and disappeared, sparking a nationwide manhunt.
Reacting to the arrest, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (rtd), hailed the operation as a “significant breakthrough” in the agency’s war against drug cartels.
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“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,” Marwa declared.
He emphasized the agency’s commitment to intelligence-led operations and international collaboration, stressing that Nigeria will not serve as a haven for global drug lords.
Marwa commended the professionalism and resilience of the Special Operations Unit, reaffirming NDLEA’s determination to dismantle drug trafficking networks across the country.
