The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 58-year-old fugitive drug lord, Uzoma Valentine Ilomuanya, who has been on the wanted list of NDLEA and British authorities for over 15 years. Ilomuanya was apprehended at a location in Lagos on February 23, 2026, following a coordinated operation by officers of a Special Operations Unit of the Agency.
The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), described the arrest as a significant breakthrough in the Agency’s fight against drug cartels. “This arrest serves as a stern warning to those who think they can hide behind borders to escape justice,” Marwa said.
Ilomuanya has a long history of drug-related crimes across Nigeria and the UK. He was first arrested in 2003 and convicted in the UK for drug trafficking, and later arrested again in 2011 and 2018 in Nigeria for similar offences. He had jumped court bail and has been on the run since then.
The NDLEA has vowed to continue its international collaborations to ensure that Nigeria is not used as a sanctuary for global drug lords.
