The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has frozen N9.84bn suspected to be proceeds of illicit drug trafficking and declared four suspected members of a methamphetamine syndicate wanted.
The agency also secured interim forfeiture orders on a filling station, multi-storey buildings and four Sport Utility Vehicles allegedly linked to the suspects.
In a statement on Friday, the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, identified the wanted suspects as Nnamuka Kelvin Uchenna, also known as Odogwu, Emmanuella Chinonso Iroka, Nnamuka Ifeanyi Kingsley and Ekechi Franklin Chijioke, alias Ekene Okwunaga.
According to the statement, the Federal High Court in Owerri, Imo State, granted the order declaring the suspects wanted following an application filed by the agency in Suit No. FHC/OW/CS/22/2026 on July 3, 2026.
Babafemi said investigations began after NDLEA operatives uncovered a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory at Isiozi, Umuaka, in Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State on February 25, 2026.
He disclosed that operatives recovered 18.4 kilograms of methamphetamine and other exhibits from the illegal laboratory during the operation.
The agency said forensic investigations later linked the four suspects to the facility, adding that they had since gone into hiding.
According to the statement, financial investigations led to the freezing of bank accounts linked to the suspects with a combined balance of N9,840,873,566.66, believed to be proceeds of drug trafficking.
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Babafemi added that the NDLEA had also obtained interim forfeiture orders covering several high-value assets allegedly owned by members of the syndicate.
The assets include a filling station, multi-storey residential buildings and four SUVs with registration numbers RLU 148 AJ, KJA 563 FZ, BWR 249 DY and FST 208 HU.
Reacting to the development, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended the officers involved in the investigation.
Marwa described the operation as a demonstration of the agency’s determination to dismantle drug trafficking networks and disrupt the financial structures sustaining them.
He said, “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 N10bn in illicit funds, alongside the forfeiture of a filling station, multi-storey buildings and four exotic SUVs, sends a clear message that the illegal drug trade is no longer a safe haven for criminals seeking to launder illicit wealth through legitimate businesses.”
The NDLEA boss appealed to members of the public with credible information on the whereabouts of the suspects to report to the nearest NDLEA office or use the agency’s confidential communication channels.
He added that the agency would continue deploying financial and forensic intelligence to trace, freeze and confiscate assets derived from drug trafficking while ensuring that all suspects linked to the syndicate were brought to justice.
