NDLEA Arrests UK-Wanted Drug Kingpin After 15 Years on the Run
- Mar 4
- 2 min read
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended a long-sought drug trafficking suspect, Uzoma Valentine Ilomuanya, bringing to a close a manhunt that spanned more than a decade and crossed international borders.
Ilomuanya, 58, was arrested in Lagos on February 23, 2026, during what officials described as a carefully executed operation by the agency’s Special Operations Unit. Authorities said he had been on the radar of both Nigerian and United Kingdom law enforcement agencies for over 15 years.
According to anti-narcotics officials, Ilomuanya first encountered British authorities in 2003 when he was arrested and later convicted for drug trafficking in the United Kingdom. He was sentenced to nine years in prison but was released after serving two years following a successful appeal.
His legal troubles resurfaced in 2011 when he was again detained in the UK over drug-related allegations. He was granted administrative bail but reportedly fled to Nigeria, evading further prosecution.
In 2018, NDLEA operatives tracked him down in Nigeria after uncovering two illegal methamphetamine production sites, one located in Obinugwu, Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State, and another at a residence in Lagos. During that operation, officers recovered nearly 78 kilograms of methamphetamine alongside equipment used for large-scale production.
He was subsequently arraigned before a Federal High Court in Lagos but allegedly jumped bail once more, disappearing until his latest arrest.
Reacting to the development, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Buba Marwa, described the arrest as a significant breakthrough in the agency’s sustained campaign against transnational drug networks. He emphasized that fleeing across borders would not shield offenders from justice.
Marwa reiterated the agency’s commitment to intelligence-driven enforcement and stronger international collaboration to dismantle drug cartels operating within and beyond Nigeria’s borders, commending the officers involved for their persistence and professionalism.
Comments