The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has confirmed the arrest of a long-wanted drug kingpin, 58-year-old Uzoma Valentine Ilomuanya, marking what it described as a major breakthrough in the fight against international narcotics trafficking.
According to the agency, Ilomuanya had been on the radar of both Nigerian authorities and law enforcement agencies in the United Kingdom for more than 15 years. He was arrested on Monday, February 23, 2026, in Lagos during a coordinated operation carried out by the NDLEA’s Special Operations Unit.
The agency said his capture ends years of pursuit linked to his alleged involvement in drug-related crimes spanning Nigeria and the UK, underscoring what officials described as his deep-rooted role in global drug networks.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (Rtd), said the arrest sends a strong message to criminals attempting to evade justice across borders. He stressed that the agency remains determined to track down individuals who threaten the nation’s health and security through drug trafficking.
In a statement issued by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, Marwa disclosed that Ilomuanya was first arrested in February 2003 in the UK, where he was convicted for drug trafficking and sentenced to nine years in prison. However, he was released after serving two years following a successful appeal.
He was reportedly arrested again in July 2011 in the UK over fresh drug-related offences but fled to Nigeria after jumping bail.
The NDLEA further revealed that in November 2018, operatives uncovered two secret methamphetamine laboratories linked to him in Imo State and Lagos, recovering 77.960 kilograms of methamphetamine. He was subsequently arraigned before a Federal High Court in Lagos but later absconded while on bail, becoming a fugitive.
Marwa described the latest arrest as a significant victory in the agency’s sustained crackdown on drug cartels. He reaffirmed the NDLEA’s commitment to intelligence-driven operations and international collaboration, while commending the officers involved for their professionalism and persistence.
He reiterated that the agency remains resolute in dismantling drug trafficking networks operating within and beyond Nigeria’s borders.
