NDLEA Arrests Drug Kingpin Declared Wanted For Over 15 Years

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced the arrest of Uzoma Valentine Ilomuanya, a wanted drug trafficker who had been evading authorities for over 15 years.

In a statement on Wednesday, NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi said the 58-year-old suspect was arrested in Lagos on Monday, February 23.

He explained that the arrest followed “a high-stakes, well-coordinated operation by officers of the special operations unit of the agency.”

According to the agency, Ilomuanya was first arrested in the United Kingdom in February 2003 for drug trafficking.

He was convicted and sentenced to nine years in prison but was released after serving about two years when he won an appeal.

“Not done with crime, he was again arrested in the UK in July 2011 for drug-related offences. He was granted administrative bail but jumped jurisdiction and fled to Nigeria,” the statement reads.

“Typical of a recidivist, Ilomuanya was in November 2018 arrested in Nigeria by NDLEA operatives following the discovery of two clandestine methamphetamine laboratories in his Obinugwu, Orlu LGA country home in Imo state and at his No. 3 Barrister Declan Uzoma Close Lagos house, where officers recovered 77.960 kilograms of methamphetamine and extensive production equipment.

“He was subsequently charged before a Federal High Court, Lagos after which he jumped court bail and has been on the run since then.”

NDLEA Chairman Buba Marwa said the arrest sends a clear message to anyone who believes they can escape justice by crossing borders.

He added that the agency will continue to rely on intelligence gathering and international partnerships to fight drug trafficking.

KanyiDaily also reported how the NDLEA arrested two men who returned from Brazil after they excreted a total of 116 wraps of heroin and cocaine while in custody.