The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 58-year-old fugitive drug kingpin, Uzoma Valentine Ilomuanya, who had been on the wanted list of both Nigerian and British authorities for more than 15 years.
Ilomuanya was apprehended in Lagos on Monday, February 23, 2026, during what officials described as a high-stakes, intelligence-led operation carried out by the Agency\u2019s Special Operations Unit.
His arrest brings to an end a prolonged cat-and-mouse chase with law enforcement agencies in Nigeria and the United Kingdom, where he had faced multiple drug-related charges over the years.Nigerian Politics Coverage
According to NDLEA, Ilomuanya was first arrested and convicted in the UK in February 2003 for drug trafficking. He was sentenced to nine years in prison but was released after serving two years following a successful appeal.
He was again arrested in the UK in July 2011 for drug-related offences. Though granted administrative bail, he allegedly absconded and fled to Nigeria.
In November 2018, the security operatives arrested him in Nigeria after uncovering two clandestine methamphetamine laboratories \u2014 one in his country home in Obinugwu, Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State, and another at his Lagos residence on Barrister Declan Uzoma Close. Officers reportedly recovered 77.960 kilograms of methamphetamine along with extensive production equipment.
He was subsequently charged before a Federal High Court in Lagos but later jumped bail and had remained on the run until his latest arrest.
Reacting to the development, NDLEA Chairman\/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), described the arrest as a major breakthrough in the agency\u2019s ongoing war against drug cartels.
\u201cThis arrest serves as a stern warning to those who think they can hide behind borders to escape justice. 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 choose to undermine the health, security, and future of our nation,\u201d Marwa said.
He added that the agency remains committed to strengthening international collaboration to prevent Nigeria from being used as a safe haven for global drug traffickers<\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 58-year-old fugitive drug kingpin, Uzoma Valentine Ilomuanya, who had been on the wanted list of both Nigerian and British authorities for more than 15 years. Ilomuanya was apprehended in Lagos on Monday, February 23, 2026, during what officials described as a high-stakes, intelligence-led operation carried […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5062,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5026","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n