NDLEA Declares Alleged Drug Kingpin, Three Associates Wanted After Freezing ₦9.8bn Accounts

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has declared an alleged drug kingpin, Nnamuka Kelvin Uchenna, popularly known as “Odogwu,” and three of his associates wanted over their alleged involvement in illicit drug production and money laundering.

The agency also announced that it had secured court orders to freeze about ₦9.84 billion traced to bank accounts allegedly linked to the suspects and obtained interim forfeiture orders covering several properties and vehicles believed to be connected to the syndicate.

The three other suspects declared wanted alongside Uchenna are Emmanuella Chinonso Iroka, Nnamuka Ifeanyi Kingsley and Ekechi Franklin Chijioke, also known as Ekene Okwunaga.

According to the NDLEA, the suspects are wanted over allegations bordering on the establishment of a clandestine laboratory, production of methamphetamine and laundering of proceeds from drug-related activities.

The agency said the action followed an order granted by Justice Iniekenimi Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court, Owerri, Imo State, in a case filed by the NDLEA on July 3, 2026.

The development followed the NDLEA’s earlier discovery and dismantling of a clandestine methamphetamine production facility in Isiozi, Umuaka, Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State.

The agency had, on February 25, 2026, uncovered the laboratory where operatives recovered 18.4 kilograms of methamphetamine alongside other materials suspected to have been used in the production of the illicit substance.

The NDLEA said subsequent investigations linked the wanted suspects to the illegal operation, but they reportedly went into hiding after the discovery.

Through what it described as forensic financial investigations, the agency said it traced and blocked funds amounting to ₦9,840,873,566.66 across multiple bank accounts allegedly connected to the suspects.

The agency also secured interim forfeiture orders covering assets including a filling station, multi-storey residential buildings and four Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) with registration numbers RLU 148 AJ, KJA 563 FZ, BWR 249 DY and FST 208 HU.

Reacting to the development, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended the officers involved in the operation, describing the action as part of efforts to dismantle drug trafficking networks and disrupt their financial structures.

Marwa said the freezing of nearly ₦10 billion in suspected illicit funds and the seizure of assets linked to the alleged syndicate demonstrated the agency’s commitment to pursuing major players in the illegal drug trade.

“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,” Marwa said.

He added that the discovery of the methamphetamine laboratory and the recovery of suspected proceeds of crime showed that drug trafficking networks would no longer be able to conceal illegal wealth through legitimate businesses.

The NDLEA boss assured Nigerians that the agency would continue using financial intelligence and forensic investigations to trace, freeze and recover assets allegedly acquired through drug trafficking.

He also appealed to members of the public with credible information about the whereabouts of the wanted suspects to report to the nearest NDLEA office or use the agency’s confidential reporting channels.

The agency said investigations are ongoing, with efforts continuing to locate the suspects and identify other individuals allegedly connected to the network.