Escalating its nationwide crackdown on illicit narcotics, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has declared drug kingpin Nnamuka Kelvin Uchenna (alias Odorwu) and three associates wanted. The suspects—Emmanuella Chinonso Iroka, Nnamuka Ifeanyi Kingsley, and Ekechi Franklin Chijioke (alias Ekene Okwunaga)—are blacklisted over their direct involvement in running clandestine methamphetamine laboratories and executing multi-billion-naira drug money laundering schemes.
This disclosure was made in a statement on Friday, July 17, by Femi Babafemi, the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy. He revealed that the suspects were declared wanted on the orders of Justice Iniekenimi Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court in Owerri, Imo State, following an NDLEA ex-parte application in suit number FHC/OW/CS/22/2026 filed on July 3, 2026.
The judicial warrant follows the discovery of a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory in Isiozi, Umuaka, within the Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State. During a raid on February 25, 2026, NDLEA operatives successfully dismantled the facility, recovering 18.4 kilograms of methamphetamine alongside specialized production equipment.
Subsequent investigations directly linked the wanted suspects to the illegal factory’s operations. Following the forensic breakthrough by the anti-narcotic agency, the masterminds immediately went into hiding to evade arrest.
Following a rigorous forensic investigation into the drug syndicate, NDLEA operatives successfully tracked and froze multiple bank accounts linked to the wanted suspects. The accounts hold a staggering combined balance of Nine Billion, Eight Hundred and Forty Million, Eight Hundred and Seventy-Three Thousand, Five Hundred and sixty-Six Naira, and Sixty-Six Kobo (₦9,840,873,566.66).
In tandem with the financial freeze, the anti-narcotic agency secured interim forfeiture orders covering the cartel’s multi-billion-naira asset portfolio. The seized properties include a commercial filling station, multi-storey residential complexes, and four luxury Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) registered under license plates RLU 148 AJ, KJA 563 FZ, BWR 249 DY, and FST 208 HU.
Reacting to the major breakthrough, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (Rtd), highly commended the operatives driving the crackdown.
He described the operation as a definitive showcase of the agency’s unyielding resolve to dismantle drug trafficking networks and aggressively disrupt the financial architecture that sustains them.
“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.
”The discovery of this clandestine methamphetamine laboratory in Njaba, and the subsequent freezing of nearly ten billion naira in illicit funds, alongside the forfeiture of a filling station, multi-storey buildings and four exotic SUVs, sends an unambiguous message that the illegal drug business is no longer a safe haven for criminals seeking to launder their ill-gotten wealth through legitimate enterprises.
“I want to assure Nigerians that the Agency will not relent in going after the fleeing suspects and anyone else linked to this syndicate. We will continue to deploy financial and forensic intelligence to trace, freeze and forfeit assets acquired through drug trafficking, just as we will not hesitate to invoke the full weight of the law against fugitives who think they can hide from justice.”
Reaffirming the agency’s stance, Marwa made a direct appeal to citizens for actionable intelligence. “I appeal to members of the public with useful information on the whereabouts of the wanted suspects to volunteer such information to the nearest NDLEA office or through our confidential lines, as we remain committed to ridding our communities of the scourge of drug trafficking and its attendant social and economic harm,” the NDLEA boss concluded.
