The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has declared a suspected drug kingpin and three accomplices wanted over their alleged involvement in operating a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory.

Femi Babafemi, the director of media and advocacy at NDLEA, announced this in a statement in Abuja on Friday.

Mr Babafemi said that the suspects, Nnamuka Uchenna, Emmanuella Iroka, Nnamuka Ifeanyi and Ekechi Chijioke, were also wanted for alleged drug production and money laundering linked to the illicit operation.

According to him, the suspects are wanted on the orders of Justice Iniekenimi Oweibo of the Federal High Court, Owerri, Imo State.

The order, he said, followed an application by the NDLEA in the suit number FHC/OW/CS/22/2026 filed before the court on July 3.

According to him, the application was a sequel to the discovery of a methamphetamine producing clandestine laboratory where 18.4kg of the illicit substance and other items were recovered.

Mr Babafemi said that the NDLEA operatives had stormed Isiozi in Umuaka, Njaba Local Government Area of Imo on February 25.

“Investigations later linked the wanted suspects to the meth lab found, and they 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 N9.8 billion were frozen.

“The agency has also secured interim forfeiture orders covering multi-billion naira assets owned by members of the syndicate.

“This includes 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 said.

Reacting to the development, the NDLEA Chairman, retired Brig.-Gen Buba Marwa, commended the officers and the operatives involved in the operation.

Mr Marwa described it 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 naira in illicit funds, alongside the forfeiture of a filling station, multi-storey buildings and four exotic SUVs, sends an unambiguous message.

“The message is clear; that the illegal drug business is no longer a haven for criminals seeking to launder their ill-got wealth through legitimate enterprises,” he said.

The NDLEA boss assured Nigerians that the agency would not relent in going after the fleeing suspects and anyone else linked to this syndicate.

Mr Marwa also affirmed that the agency would 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.

“You can also reach us 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,” Mr Marwa stated.

 (NAN)