The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has declared an alleged drug kingpin, Nnamuka Kelvin Uchenna, also known as Odogwu, and three of his associates wanted over their alleged involvement in operating a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory, producing illicit drugs and laundering proceeds from drug trafficking.

The agency has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) aimed at strengthening collaboration against drug trafficking, copyright piracy and other forms of organised crime in Nigeria.

The three other suspects declared wanted by the agency are Emmanuella Chinonso Iroka, Nnamuka Ifeanyi Kingsley and Ekechi Franklin Chijioke, also known as Ekene Okwunaga.

The declaration followed an order granted by Justice Iniekenimi Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court in Owerri, Imo State, after an application filed by the NDLEA in Suit No. FHC/OW/CS/22/2026 on July 3, 2026.

According to the agency, the suspects went into hiding after NDLEA operatives uncovered a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory at Isiozi, Umuaka, Njaba Local Council of Imo State, on February 25, 2026.

During the operation, officers recovered 18.4 kilogrammes of methamphetamine and other incriminating items.

The agency said that subsequent investigations linked the four wanted suspects to the illegal drug laboratory.

It added that forensic investigations into the syndicate led to the freezing of bank accounts linked to the suspects with a combined balance of N9,840,873,566.66.

The NDLEA also secured interim forfeiture orders over multi-billion-naira assets allegedly belonging to members of the syndicate.

The assets include a filling station, multi-storey residential buildings and four Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) with registration numbers RLU 148 AJ, KJA 563 FZ, BWR 249 DY and FST 208 HU.

Reacting to the development, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd.), commended the officers involved in the operation, describing it as a major step in dismantling drug trafficking networks and disrupting their financial operations.

Marwa said the operation underscored the agency’s determination to track down drug barons and their collaborators, regardless of how sophisticated their operations were or how long they attempted to evade justice.

He noted that the discovery of the clandestine methamphetamine laboratory, the freezing of nearly N10 billion linked to the syndicate and the forfeiture of high-value assets demonstrated that the agency would continue to target the financial infrastructure sustaining illicit drug businesses.

The MoU with the NCC, signed at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja on Friday, seeks to enhance intelligence sharing, joint operations, capacity building and technical cooperation between the two agencies to dismantle criminal networks involved in illicit activities.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Marwa said the partnership underscores the growing recognition that organised criminal groups often operate across multiple illegal enterprises.

According to him, experience from the agency’s anti-drug operations has shown that syndicates engaged in narcotics trafficking are frequently involved in other economic crimes, including the piracy of intellectual property belonging to Nigerian musicians, filmmakers, writers and software developers.

“The proceeds from one illegal trade often finance another. This is the criminal value chain we must disrupt together,” Marwa said.

He explained that the MoU provides a structured framework for collaboration through intelligence exchange, coordinated enforcement operations, joint training programmes and mutual technical support.

Marwa added that a Joint Working Committee would be established to drive the implementation of the agreement and ensure that the partnership delivers measurable results.

“This partnership is not just about law enforcement. It is about protecting the health and social well-being of our people while safeguarding the creativity and innovation of Nigerians whose works are undermined by piracy,” he said.

Also speaking, the Director-General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission, Dr. John Asein, described the alliance as a significant milestone in strengthening inter-agency collaboration to combat organised crime.

He noted that copyright piracy is often wrongly viewed as a minor commercial offence, whereas it is, in reality, a sophisticated criminal enterprise that deprives creators of legitimate income, destroys jobs, discourages investment and weakens Nigeria’s creative economy.

According to Asein, international experience has shown that organised copyright piracy is closely linked with other transnational crimes, including drug trafficking, money laundering, smuggling and cyber-enabled offences.

“The same transportation routes, storage facilities, financial channels and distribution networks used for illicit drugs can also be used to move and sell pirated books, films, music, software and other copyrighted materials,” he said.

He stressed that the collaboration would enable both agencies to combine their expertise and intelligence capabilities to identify criminal syndicates, trace illicit financial flows, disrupt illegal supply chains and dismantle organised criminal networks.

Asein also extolled the NDLEA’s intelligence-driven approach to law enforcement, describing the agency as a model of professionalism and operational excellence.

He said the NCC would benefit from the NDLEA’s expertise in strategic investigations, forensic analysis, surveillance, financial intelligence, international cooperation and inter-agency coordination.