NDLEA Arrests UK-Wanted Drug Kingpin After 15 Years

On February 23, 2026, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested 58-year-old drug lord Uzoma Valentin Ilomuanya in Lagos, Nigeria, after a 15-year pursuit. Femi Babafemi, the Director of Media and Advocacy for the NDLEA, confirmed that Ilomuanya was on the wanted list of UK authorities.

His arrest followed a high-stakes intelligence-led operation executed by the agency's special operations unit, concluding a prolonged cat-and-mouse chase across Nigeria and the United Kingdom. Ilomuanya has a criminal record linked to the global narcotics trade, having been first arrested in February 2003 in the UK and sentenced to nine years for drug trafficking.

He was released after serving two years due to a successful appeal in July 2011 but later jumped bail and fled Nigeria. Brig Gen Mohammed Buba Marwa, the NDLEA Chairman, described the arrest as a significant breakthrough in the agency's relentless war against drug cartels, emphasizing their commitment to dismantling drug trafficking networks.