Imo meth factory: NDLEA declares drug kingpin, 3 associates wanted, blocks N9.8bn fund

By Ayorinde Oluokun

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) intensified its battle against drug trafficking on Friday with the declaration of a drug baron and his three associates wanted over methamphetamine factory discovered in Owerri, Imo State.

The agency also announced blockage of nearly over N9.8 billion funds as well as seizure of four exotic cars and other assets linked to the wanted suspects.

Spokesperson for NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, in a statement on Friday identified the wanted drug kingpin as Nnamuka Kelvin Uchenna (a.k.a Odogwu).

The three associates of the drug baron declared wanted are Emmanuella Chinonso Iroka; Nnamuka Ifeanyi Kingsley and Ekechi Franklin Chijioke (a.k.a Ekene Okwunaga).

He said the suspects are wanted over their involvement in the establishment of a clandestine laboratory, production of methamphetamine and drug money laundering.

Babafemi added that they 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 3rd July 2026.

According to him, NDLEA went to court to obtain the court order following discovery of a methamphetamine producing clandestine laboratory where 18.4 kilograms of the illicit substance and other items were recovered by operatives of the agency at Isiozi in Umuaka, Njaba local government area of Imo state on 25th February 2026.

“Investigations later linked the wanted suspects to the meth lab and have since then gone into hiding,” said the NDLEA spokesperson.

He added that based on forensic investigation of the meth syndicate by NDLEA operatives, bank accounts linked them with a combined balance of N9,840,873,566.66 have been frozen.

Babafemi said the NDLEA has also secured interim forfeiture orders covering multi billion naira assets owned by members of the syndicate including: 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.

He quoted Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) as commending the officers and operatives involved in the operation.

Marwa, Babafemi said, 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 ten billion naira 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, as we remain committed to ridding our communities of the scourge of drug trafficking and its attendant social and economic harm”, Marwa stated.