The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has declared an alleged drug kingpin, Nnamuka Kelvin Uchenna, popularly known as Odogwu, and three of his associates wanted over their alleged involvement in the operation of a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory, drug production and money laundering.

The agency also announced that it had frozen bank accounts linked to the suspects containing N9.84 billion and secured interim forfeiture orders on multi-billion-naira assets, including a filling station, residential buildings and four Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs).

The three other suspects declared wanted are Emmanuella Chinonso Iroka, Nnamuka Ifeanyi Kingsley and Ekechi Franklin Chijioke, also known as Ekene Okwunaga.

According to the NDLEA, the suspects were declared wanted following an order issued by Justice Iniekenimi Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court in Owerri, Imo State, after an application filed by the agency on July 3, 2026, in Suit No. FHC/OW/CS/22/2026.

The development follows the discovery of a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory at Isiozi in Umuaka, Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State on February 25, 2026, where NDLEA operatives recovered 18.4 kilograms of methamphetamine and other items.

The agency said investigations subsequently linked the four suspects to the illegal laboratory, adding that they have since gone into hiding.

NDLEA disclosed that forensic investigations traced multiple bank accounts linked to the syndicate with a combined balance of N9,840,873,566.66, which have now been frozen.

It added that it had also obtained interim forfeiture orders covering assets allegedly acquired through proceeds of drug trafficking, including a filling station, multi-storey residential buildings and four SUVs with registration numbers RLU 148 AJ, KJA 563 FZ, BWR 249 DY and FST 208 HU.

Reacting to the development, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, retired Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa, described the operation as a major breakthrough in the agency’s campaign against drug trafficking and illicit financial networks.

Marwa said the discovery of the clandestine methamphetamine laboratory, the freezing of nearly N10 billion in suspected illicit funds and the forfeiture of high-value assets demonstrated the agency’s determination to dismantle drug trafficking syndicates and disrupt the financial structures sustaining them.

He vowed that the agency would continue to deploy financial and forensic intelligence to trace, freeze and confiscate assets linked to drug trafficking while pursuing all fleeing suspects and their collaborators.

Marwa also appealed to members of the public to provide useful information on the whereabouts of the wanted suspects through the nearest NDLEA office or the agency’s confidential communication channels, assuring Nigerians of the agency’s commitment to eliminating drug trafficking and its social and economic consequences.