The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has declared Nnamuka Kelvin Uchenna, a suspected drug kingpin, and three of his associates wanted over alleged involvement in the operation of a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory in Imo State.
In a statement on Friday by Femi Babafemi, NDLEA’s director of media and advocacy, the agency said the alleged associates are Emmanuella Chinonso Iroka, Nnamuka Ifeanyi Kingsley, and Ekechi Franklin Chijioke, also known as Ekene Okwunaga.
Babafemi said the declaration followed an order by Iniekenimi Nicholas Oweibo, presiding judge of the Federal High Court in Owerri, after an application filed by the NDLEA in suit number FHC/OW/CS/22/2026 on July 3.
He said the suspects were linked to a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory uncovered at Isiozi, Umuaka, in Njaba LGA of Imo State on February 25.
The spokesperson said the agency’s operatives recovered 18.4 kilograms of methamphetamine and other items from the facility, noting that investigations identified the four suspects as members of the syndicate.
He said the suspects have since gone into hiding.
The statement added that forensic investigations led to the freezing of bank accounts with over N9.8 billion linked to the suspects.
“Through forensic investigation of the meth syndicate by NDLEA operatives, bank accounts linked to the wanted suspects with a combined balance of nine billion, eight hundred and forty million, eight hundred and seventy three thousand, five hundred and sixty six naira, sixty six kobo (N9,840,873,566.66) only was frozen while the agency has secured interim forfeiture orders covering multibillion naira assets owned by members of the syndicate including: a filling station, multi-storey residential buildings and four Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) marked RLU 148 AJ; KJA 563 FZ; BWR 249 DY and FST 208 HU,” the statement reads.
Buba Marwa, chairman of the NDLEA, said the operation is evidence of the agency’s resolve to dismantle drug trafficking networks while targeting their financial base.
“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,” Marwa said.
“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 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.”
TheCable
