The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended a 58-year-old alleged fugitive drug lord, Uzoma Valentine Ilomuanya, ending a 15-year-long manhunt spanning Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
According to a statement by NDLEA Director of Media & Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, Ilomuanya was arrested on Monday, February 23, 2026, in Lagos following a meticulously coordinated operation by the Agency’s Special Operations Unit. His arrest concludes a prolonged pursuit tied to his alleged extensive involvement in drug-related crimes internationally.
Ilomuanya was first arrested in February 2003 and convicted in the UK for drug trafficking, receiving a nine-year sentence but released after two years upon appeal. He was arrested again in the UK in July 2011 for drug offenses, granted administrative bail, but fled to Nigeria.
In November 2018, NDLEA operatives discovered two clandestine methamphetamine laboratories linked to him—one in Obinugwu, Orlu LGA, Imo State, and another at his Lagos residence—recovering 77.960 kilograms of methamphetamine and significant production equipment. He was subsequently charged in a Federal High Court in Lagos but jumped bail and remained at large until this recent arrest.
NDLEA Chairman/CEO Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) described the arrest as a major victory in Nigeria’s fight against drug trafficking. He stated, “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 undermine the health, security, and future of our nation.”
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Marwa praised the Special Operations Unit for their professionalism and resilience, emphasizing that the NDLEA will continue to strengthen intelligence-led operations and deepen international collaborations to dismantle drug trafficking networks operating in Nigeria.
