By Ijeoma Agbafo
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 and laundering proceeds from the illicit trade.
The agency, in a statement issued on Friday by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi, identified the suspects as Nnamuka Uchenna, Emmanuella Iroka, Nnamuka Ifeanyi and Ekechi Chijioke.
He said they were declared wanted following an order issued by Justice Iniekenimi Oweibo of the Federal High Court in Owerri, Imo State.
Babafemi said the court order followed an application filed by the NDLEA after operatives uncovered a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory in Isiozi, Umuaka, Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State on Feb. 25, where 18.4 kilogrammes of methamphetamine and other items were recovered.
He added that investigations linked the suspects to the facility before they went into hiding. According to him, forensic investigations led to the freezing of bank accounts linked to the suspects with a combined balance of ₦9.8 billion.
The agency also secured interim forfeiture orders on assets allegedly connected to the syndicate, including a filling station, multi-storey residential buildings and four sport utility vehicles.
NDLEA Chairman, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, commended the operatives involved in the operation, describing it as a demonstration of the agency’s resolve to dismantle drug trafficking networks and their financial structures.
He urged members of the public with useful information on the whereabouts of the suspects to report to the nearest NDLEA office, assuring that the agency would continue to deploy forensic and financial intelligence to track down fugitives and recover assets linked to illicit drug activities.
