The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has declared four suspected members of a drug trafficking syndicate wanted over their alleged involvement in operating a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory in Imo State.
In a statement on Friday, the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, identified the suspects as Nnamuka Uchenna, Emmanuella Iroka, Nnamuka Ifeanyi and Ekechi Chijioke.
Babafemi said the suspects are wanted for alleged drug production and money laundering following an order by Justice Iniekenimi Oweibo of the Federal High Court, Owerri, based on an application filed by the NDLEA.
According to him, the agency uncovered the illegal methamphetamine laboratory during an operation at Isiozi, Umuaka, in Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State on February 25, where operatives recovered 18.4 kilograms of methamphetamine and other materials used in drug production.
He said investigations linked the four suspects to the facility, but they have since gone into hiding.
The NDLEA also disclosed that forensic investigations led to the freezing of bank accounts linked to the suspects with a combined balance of N9.8 billion.
The agency further secured interim forfeiture orders on assets allegedly connected to the syndicate, including a filling station, multi-storey residential buildings and four Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs).
NDLEA Chairman, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, commended the officers involved in the operation, describing it as a major breakthrough in the agency’s efforts to dismantle drug trafficking networks and disrupt their financial operations.
Marwa said the seizure of illicit funds and assets demonstrates that the agency will continue to deploy financial and forensic intelligence to trace, freeze and confiscate proceeds of drug trafficking while ensuring that those behind such criminal activities are brought to justice.
He appealed to members of the public to provide credible information that could lead to the arrest of the fleeing suspects.