NDLEA arrests fugitive drug lord wanted in UK and Nigeria for 15 years

2026-03-04 - 12:07

By Kingsley Omonobi The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended 58-year-old fugitive drug lord Uzoma Valentine Ilomuanya, who had been on the wanted list in both Nigeria and the United Kingdom for over 15 years. The arrest marks a major blow to international drug trafficking networks. The agency said Ilomuanya was arrested in Lagos on Monday, February 23, 2026, following a high-stakes operation by officers of its Special Operations Unit. “His arrest ends a long-standing cat-and-mouse game with the law following his persistent involvement in drug trafficking across Nigeria and the UK,” the NDLEA stated. Ilomuanya was first arrested in February 2003 in the UK and sentenced to nine years for drug trafficking, though he served only two years after an appeal. He was rearrested in July 2011 for drug-related offences, granted administrative bail, but fled to Nigeria. In November 2018, NDLEA operatives arrested him in Nigeria after discovering two clandestine methamphetamine laboratories — one in his Obinugwu, Orlu LGA home in Imo State, and another at his Lagos residence on Barrister Declan Uzoma Close. Officers recovered 77.960 kilograms of methamphetamine and extensive production equipment. Ilomuanya later jumped bail and had been on the run until now. Reacting to the arrest, NDLEA Chairman/CEO Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa described it as a “significant breakthrough” in the agency’s fight against drug cartels. “This arrest serves as a stern warning to those who think they can hide behind borders to escape justice,” Marwa said. “Whether you jump bail in London or set up clandestine labs in your village, the long arm of the NDLEA will eventually catch up with those who undermine the health, security, and future of our nation.” He added that the agency remains committed to intelligence-led operations and international cooperation to prevent Nigeria from becoming a sanctuary for global drug lords. Marwa also commended the Special Operations Unit for their professionalism, resilience, and diligence in tracking down the fugitive, reiterating NDLEA’s resolve to dismantle drug trafficking networks across the country.