A suspected drug kingpin, Nnamuka Uchenna, also known as Odogwu, and three of his associates Emmanuella Chinonso Iroka, Nnamuka Ifeanyi Kingsley and Ekechi Franklin Chijioke, also known as Ekene Okwunaga have been declared wanted by the wanted National Drug Law Enforcement Agency((NDLEA).
NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi who announced this on Friday, said the quartet are wanted for their alleged involvement in operating a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory in Imo State and laundering proceeds from illicit drug activities.
Babafemi said Justice Iniekenimi Oweibo of the Federal High Court, Owerri, declared the suspects wanted after an order granted by after an application filed by the agency in suit number FHC/OW/CS/22/2026 on July 3.
The agency said Justice Oweibo’s order was sequel to the discovery of a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory at Isiozi in Umuaka, Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State on February 25, 2026.
He said NDLEA operatives recovered 18.4 kilogrammes of methamphetamine and other exhibits during the raid, while subsequent investigations linked the four suspects to the illegal laboratory.
“The suspects have since gone into hiding,” the statement said, adding that bank accounts linked to the suspects with a combined balance of N9,840,873,566.66 had been frozen
Babafemi said “through forensic investigation of the meth syndicate by NDLEA operatives, bank accounts linked to the wanted suspects with a combined balance of N9,840,873,566.66 only were frozen.”
According to the agency, it had secured interim forfeiture orders on assets allegedly linked to the syndicate, including a filling station, multi-storey residential buildings and four Sport Utility Vehicles bearing registration numbers RLU 148 AJ, KJA 563 FZ, BWR 249 DY and FST 208 HU.
The Chairman of the NDLEA, retired Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa, described the operation as a demonstration of the agency’s determination to dismantle drug trafficking networks and target the financial structures sustaining them.
He said the discovery of the methamphetamine laboratory, the freezing of nearly N10bn in alleged illicit funds and the seizure of high-value assets underscored the agency’s resolve to ensure that drug traffickers no longer find safe havens for laundering proceeds of crime.
Marwa assured Nigerians that the agency would continue to deploy financial and forensic intelligence to track down the fleeing suspects and anyone linked to the syndicate.
He also appealed to members of the public with useful information on the whereabouts of the suspects to report to the nearest NDLEA office or through the agency’s confidential communication channels.
