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 the NDLEA and British authorities for more than 15 years.

Ilomuanya was apprehended at a location in Lagos on Monday, February 23, 2026, following what officials described as a high-stakes, well-coordinated operation by officers of the agency’s Special Operations Unit.

The arrest is considered a major blow to international drug trafficking networks and brings to an end a long-running pursuit linked to his involvement in drug-related crimes in Nigeria and the United Kingdom.

Ilomuanya was first arrested in February 2003 and convicted in the United Kingdom for drug trafficking. He was sentenced to nine years in prison but was later released after serving two years following a successful appeal.

He was arrested again in the UK in July 2011 for drug-related offences. Although granted administrative bail, he absconded and fled to Nigeria.

In November 2018, NDLEA operatives arrested him in Nigeria after discovering two clandestine methamphetamine laboratories at his country home in Obinugwu, Orlu Local Council of Imo State, and at his residence at No. 3 Barrister Declan Uzoma Close in Lagos. Officers recovered 77.960 kilogrammes of methamphetamine and a range of production equipment.

He was subsequently charged before a Federal High Court in Lagos but later jumped court bail and had remained on the run since then.
Reacting to the development, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd), described the arrest as a major breakthrough in the agency’s campaign against drug cartels.

According to him, “This arrest serves as a stern warning to those who think they can hide behind borders to escape justice. Whether you jump bail in London or set up clandestine labs in your village, the long arm of the NDLEA will eventually catch up with those who choose to undermine the health, security, and future of our nation.

“We remain committed to our international collaborations to ensure that Nigeria is not used as a sanctuary for global drug lords. The NDLEA under our watch will continue to strengthen intelligence-led operations, deepen international cooperation, and ensure that those involved in the illicit drug trade are brought to justice.”