Nigeria declares drug kingpin, three associates wanted, freezes N9.8bn linked to syndicate

Nigeria's National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has declared a suspected drug kingpin, Nnamuka Uchenna, known as Odogwu, and three associates wanted. The agency also froze N9.8 billion in bank accounts linked to the syndicate and seized assets, including vehicles and buildings.

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The suspects have since gone into hiding.

The suspects were declared wanted after a court order from the Federal High Court in Owerri, following the discovery of a methamphetamine laboratory in Isiozi, Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State on February 25, 2026. Operatives recovered 18.4 kilograms of methamphetamine during the raid.

Forensic investigations linked the four suspects to the illegal laboratory. They have since gone into hiding. The NDLEA's Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, stated that bank accounts with a combined balance of N9,840,873,566.66 were frozen. Interim forfeiture orders were also secured for assets including a filling station, residential buildings, and four SUVs.

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Through forensic investigation of the meth syndicate by NDLEA operatives, bank accounts linked to the wanted suspects with a combined balance of N9,840,873,566.66 only was frozen

NDLEA Chairman and CEO, retired Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa, described the operation as a demonstration of the agency's commitment to dismantling drug trafficking networks and their financial structures. He emphasized the agency's resolve to ensure drug traffickers have no safe havens for laundering crime proceeds.

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The discovery of the methamphetamine laboratory, the freezing of nearly N10bn in alleged illicit funds and the seizure of high-value assets underscored the agency’s resolve to ensure that drug traffickers no longer find safe havens for laundering proceeds of crime.