In a major breakthrough against international drug trafficking, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 58-year-old fugitive drug lord, Uzoma Valentine Ilomuanya, who had been on the wanted list of Nigerian and British authorities for over 15 years.
Ilomuanya was apprehended in Lagos on Monday, February 23, 2026, during a high-profile, intelligence-led operation carried out by the Agency’s Special Operations Unit.
His arrest brings to an end a prolonged manhunt spanning Nigeria and the United Kingdom, underscoring his long-standing involvement in transnational narcotics trafficking.
Ilomuanya was first arrested in February 2003 in the United Kingdom, where he was convicted for drug trafficking and sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment. However, he was released after serving two years following a successful appeal. In July 2011, he was again arrested in the UK for drug-related offences. Though granted administrative bail, he absconded and fled to Nigeria.
In November 2018, NDLEA operatives arrested him in Nigeria after uncovering two clandestine methamphetamine laboratories — one at his residence in Obinugwu, Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State, and another at No. 3 Barrister Declan Uzoma Close in Lagos. Officers recovered 77.960 kilograms of methamphetamine along with extensive production equipment. He was subsequently arraigned before a Federal High Court in Lagos but jumped bail and had remained at large until his latest arrest.
Reacting to the development, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Buba Marwa, described the arrest as a significant milestone in the Agency’s sustained offensive against drug cartels.
“This arrest sends a clear message to those who believe they can evade justice by crossing borders. Whether you jump bail in London or operate clandestine laboratories locally, the long arm of the NDLEA will eventually catch up with you,” he said.
Marwa reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to strengthening intelligence-driven operations and enhancing international collaboration to prevent Nigeria from serving as a safe haven for global drug traffickers.
He also commended the officers of the Special Operations Unit for their professionalism, resilience, and dedication in tracking down the fugitive, reiterating the Agency’s resolve to dismantle drug trafficking networks operating within and beyond Nigeria.