How NDLEA Arrested 77,792 Culprits, Secured 14,225 Convictions, Seized 14.8mkg of Drugs in Five Years — Marwa
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has recorded the arrest of 77,792 drug offenders, secured 14,225 convictions and seized over 14.8 million kilograms of illicit drugs in the last five years, as its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), declared that Nigeria is no longer a safe haven for drug cartels and traffickers.
Marwa made the declaration on Tuesday in Abuja at the 11th Chairman/Chief Executive Officer (CCEO) Awards and Commendation Ceremony held at the agency’s national headquarters, where 166 personnel and 17 commands were honoured for outstanding performance.
He said the agency’s achievements, which include the arrest of 128 high-profile drug barons and the disruption of major local and transnational trafficking networks, were a clear signal that criminal drug enterprises are being systematically dismantled.
“When I first resumed in 2021, I promised to take the fight to the doorsteps of the merchants of death. Today, the numbers speak for themselves,” Marwa said. “We have sent a clear message that Nigeria is no longer a safe haven for illicit drug enterprise.”
According to him, the NDLEA seized a total of 14,847,486.34 kilograms of assorted illicit substances over the period, significantly weakening supply chains and reducing the availability of drugs in communities across the country.
Beyond enforcement, Marwa said the agency has strengthened its demand-reduction strategy, revealing that 32,442 drug users have received professional treatment, counselling and rehabilitation, while 13,735 sensitisation campaigns were conducted under the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative in schools, motor parks, workplaces, worship centres and communities nationwide.
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He attributed the successes to discipline, intelligence-led operations and strong institutional support, particularly from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whom he thanked for extending the agency’s leadership mandate.
“Mr. President’s decision to extend our mandate is a call to more work. We assure him, and indeed all Nigerians, that the successes of the past five years are merely a foundation,” Marwa said. “In this second tenure, we will escalate the war against drug abuse and trafficking to new heights of efficiency and results.”
Addressing officers and men of the agency, he charged them to prepare for more tactically sophisticated operations against drug cartels, barons and their couriers, stressing that there would be no room for complacency.
“The next phase of our operations demands even more grit and more tactical sophistication. We will not rest until every drug baron is behind bars, every trafficker is intercepted, and every single gram of illicit drug is removed from our streets and communities,” he said.
The CCEO Awards, which follow the agency’s bi-annual performance appraisal, were described by Marwa as a key motivational tool embedded in the NDLEA’s corporate culture to boost productivity and reward integrity, courage and dedication to duty.
He urged the award recipients to see their honours as a reminder that their sacrifices are valued, while encouraging other officers to draw inspiration from their achievements.
Marwa also acknowledged the contributions of the legislature, judiciary, international partners, sister security agencies, civil society organisations and the media, calling for deeper collaboration to sustain the fight against drug abuse and trafficking and safeguard the future of Nigerian children.
The ceremony marked another milestone in what the NDLEA leadership described as a renewed and intensified national campaign to dismantle drug networks and strengthen community protection across the country.
By PRNigeria
