The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 58-year-old fugitive drug lord, Uzoma Valentine Ilomuanya, who had been on the wanted list of Nigerian and British authorities for over 15 years.
Ilomuanya was apprehended in Lagos on Monday, February 23, 2026, following a high-level, coordinated operation by officers of the Agency’s Special Operations Unit. His arrest mark the end of a prolonged manhunt spanning multiple jurisdictions, linked to his involvement in drug trafficking activities in both Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
According to the NDLEA, Ilomuanya was first arrested in February 2003 in the UK, where he was convicted for drug trafficking and sentenced to nine years imprisonment. However, he was released after serving two years following a successful appeal. In July 2011, he was again arrested in the UK on drug-related charges. He was granted administrative bail but absconded and fled to Nigeria.
In November 2018, NDLEA operatives arrested him in Nigeria after uncovering two clandestine methamphetamine laboratories one in his hometown of Obinugwu, Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State, and another at his residence on Barrister Declan Uzoma Close in Lagos. During the operation, officers recovered 77.960 kilograms of methamphetamine along with extensive production equipment.
He was subsequently charged before a Federal High Court in Lagos but jumped bail and had remained at large until his recent arrest.
Reacting to the development, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), described the arrest as a significant breakthrough in the agency’s ongoing war against drug cartels.
“This 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,” Marwa stated.
He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to international collaboration to prevent Nigeria from being used as a safe haven for global drug lords.
“We remain committed to strengthening intelligence-led operations, deepening international cooperation, and ensuring that those involved in the illicit drug trade are brought to justice,” he added.
Marwa also commended officers of the Special Operations Unit for their professionalism, resilience, and diligence in tracking down the fugitive, stressing that the agency remains steadfast in dismantling drug trafficking networks operating within and beyond Nigeria.
