On the US Drug Enforcement Administration’s official fugitive page, between photographs and physical descriptions of men wanted across the country, sits the name and face of a Nigerian man the federal government is actively hunting. His listing is straightforward and unsparing: alleged drug offences, two last known addresses, and a firm public warning that he should not be approached under any circumstances.
Tayo Muyiwa Olukoya, who goes by the street names “Unc” and “Uncle”, is wanted on federal charges of conspiracy to possess controlled substances with intent to distribute, as well as the direct distribution of those substances. The case falls under the jurisdiction of Indiana’s Southern District, placing it squarely within the federal court system rather than any state-level proceeding — a distinction that carries considerably heavier legal consequences.
The DEA’s fugitive listing describes Olukoya as a Black male born in 1969, standing 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing approximately 218 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. Authorities have recorded two last known addresses: one at 4015 Zinfandel Way in Indianapolis, Indiana, and a second at 1315 Synergy in Irvine, California. His NCIC number — the identifier used by law enforcement agencies to track individuals across databases — is recorded as W916593809.
The public notice is explicit about the risk Olukoya may pose. Authorities warn that he could be armed and dangerous, and members of the public are urged not to attempt to confront or detain him themselves. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is directed to submit a tip through the US Marshals Service portal at usmarshals.gov/tips, or to contact the nearest DEA field office directly. The Marshals Service retains discretion over whether a financial reward will be offered for information leading to his capture. Those who believe they are in immediate danger are advised to call 911 without hesitation.
Olukoya’s listing arrives in a period of heightened US federal attention to Nigerian nationals connected to financial and narcotics offences. Earlier this year, American authorities separately declared another Nigerian man wanted in connection with a $3.1 million Medicare fraud scheme, underscoring the breadth of cases that have drawn federal scrutiny. The DEA’s decision to publish Olukoya’s photograph and details publicly signals that conventional investigative channels have not yet produced results, and that the agency is now casting a wider net. For Nigeria, each such case adds to a reputational weight the country can ill afford — even as the vast majority of its citizens abroad have no connection whatsoever to criminal activity.