The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has
declared a drug kingpin, Nnamuka Kelvin Uchenna (a.k.a Odogwu) and three of his
associates: Emmanuella Chinonso Iroka; Nnamuka Ifeanyi Kingsley and Ekechi
Franklin Chijioke (a.k.a Ekene Okwunaga) wanted over their involvement in the
establishment of a clandestine laboratory, production of methamphetamine and
drug money laundering.
The suspects were declared wanted based on the order
of Justice Iniekenimi Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court, Owerri, Imo
state, following an application by NDLEA in suit number FHC/OW/CS/22/2026 filed
before the court on 3rd July 2026.
This followed the discovery of a methamphetamine
producing clandestine laboratory where 18.4 kilograms of the illicit substance
and other items were recovered by NDLEA operatives at Isiozi in Umuaka, Njaba
local government area of Imo state on 25th February 2026. Investigations later
linked the wanted suspects to the meth lab and have since then gone into
hiding.
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.
Reacting to the development, Chairman/Chief Executive
Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), 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.
"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", Marwa stated.
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