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 operating a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory and laundering proceeds of illicit drug trafficking.

According to reports, the anti-narcotics agency also disclosed that it had frozen bank accounts linked to the suspects containing a combined balance of ₦9.84bn and secured interim forfeiture orders on several high-value assets, including a filling station, multi-storey buildings and four Sport Utility Vehicles.

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

The NDLEA said the suspects were declared wanted following an order issued by Justice Iniekenimi Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court in Owerri, Imo State.

According to the agency, the order was granted after it filed an application before the court in Suit No. FHC/OW/CS/22/2026 on July 3, 2026.

The development followed investigations into a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory uncovered at Isiozi in Umuaka, Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State.

The agency recalled that its operatives raided the illegal drug laboratory on February 25, 2026, where they recovered 18.4 kilograms of methamphetamine alongside other materials used in the production of the illicit substance.

It said subsequent investigations linked the four wanted suspects to the operation of the laboratory.

According to the NDLEA, the suspects have since gone into hiding.

The agency said forensic financial investigations led to the freezing of bank accounts linked to the suspects with a total balance of ₦9,840,873,566.66.

It added that it also obtained interim forfeiture orders covering several assets allegedly connected to the drug syndicate.