The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has blocked the sum of ₦9.8 billion, suspected to be drug money and allegedly belonging to a suspected drug kingpin, Nnamuka Kelvin Uchenna (a.k.a Odogwu), and three of his associates.
This was as the agency secured a temporary forfeiture of multi-billion-naira fuel station, buildings, SUVs traced to the suspected drug kingpin and his acolytes.
NDLEA also declared the drug kingpin, and associates–Emmanuella Chinonso Iroka; Nnamuka Ifeanyi Kingsley and Ekechi Franklin Chijioke (a.k.a Ekene Okwunaga)–wanted for their alleged involvement in the establishment of a clandestine laboratory, production of methamphetamine and drug money laundering.
NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, made the disclosures in a press release on, Friday, 17 July, 2026.
How ₦9.8Bn Drug Money Was Traced To The Suspected kingpin
The suspects were declared wanted, based on the order of Justice Iniekenimi Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court, Owerri, Imo State, following an application by NDLEA in suit number FHC/OW/CS/22/2026 filed before the court on 3 July, 2026.
The law suit followed the discovery of a methamphetamine producing clandestine laboratory where 18.4 kilograms of the illicit substance and other items were recovered by NDLEA operatives at Isiozi in Umuaka, Njaba Local Government Area of the state on 25 February, 2026.
“Investigations later linked the wanted suspects to the meth lab and have since then gone into hiding.
“Through forensic investigation of the meth syndicate by NDLEA operatives, bank accounts linked to the wanted suspects with a combined balance of ₦9,840,873,566.66 billion were frozen.
“The agency has secured interim forfeiture orders covering multi-billion naira assets owned by members of the syndicate,” it was added in the release.
The assets included a filling station, multi-storey residential buildings and four Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs), marked RLU 148 AJ; KJA 563 FZ; BWR 249 DY, and FST 208 HU.
Reacting to the development, NDLEA Chairman/CEO, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), commended the officers and operatives involved in the operation.
He described the operation as a clear demonstration of the agency’s resolve to dismantle drug trafficking networks and disrupt the financial architecture that sustains them.
“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 ₦10 billion in illicit funds, alongside the forfeiture of a filling station, multi-storey buildings and four exotic SUVs, sends an unambiguous message that the illegal drug business is no longer a safe haven for criminals seeking to launder their ill-gotten wealth through legitimate enterprises.
“I want to assure Nigerians that the agency will not relent in going after the fleeing suspects and anyone else linked to this syndicate.
“We will continue to deploy financial and forensic intelligence to trace, freeze and forfeit assets acquired through drug trafficking, just as we will not hesitate to invoke the full weight of the law against fugitives who think they can hide from justice.
“I appeal to members of the public with useful information on the whereabouts of the wanted suspects to volunteer such information to the nearest NDLEA office or through our confidential lines.
“We remain committed to ridding our communities of the scourge of drug trafficking and its attendant social and economic harm,” Marwa stated in the release.
