The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested fugitive drug trafficker Uzoma Valentine Ilomuanya after 15 years on the run.
NDLEA officers picked him up in Lagos on February 23, 2026. The agency’s Special Operations Unit carried out the operation.
Femi Babafemi, NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, announced the arrest in Abuja. He described it as a major win against global drug networks.
Ilomuanya first faced arrest in the United Kingdom in 2003 for drug trafficking. A UK court sentenced him to nine years in prison. He later secured release after serving two years.
Authorities arrested him again in the UK in 2011 for drug offences. Officials granted him bail, but he fled to Nigeria.
In 2018, NDLEA operatives tracked him to Nigeria. They uncovered two secret meth labs one in Orlu, Imo State, and another at his Lagos home. Officers seized 77.960 kilograms of methamphetamine and lab equipment.
Prosecutors charged him before the Federal High Court in Lagos. He jumped bail and disappeared again.
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NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised the officers who led the operation.
He said the arrest sends a clear message to drug traffickers who think they can hide across borders. He added that NDLEA will continue to work with foreign partners and use intelligence to track suspects.
Marwa also reaffirmed the agency’s resolve to break drug cartels and protect Nigerians from the harm caused by illicit drugs.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.
