By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Buba Marwa (retd.), said the agency arrested 77,792 drug offenders and seized about 14.847 million kilogrammes of illicit drugs in the last five years.
Marwa disclosed this during the NDLEA Commands, Awards and Commendations Ceremony held on Tuesday, January 20, in Abuja.
He noted that the seizures significantly disrupted local and transnational drug trafficking networks and sent a clear message that Nigeria is no longer a haven for illicit drug enterprises.
The NDLEA boss added that the agency also arrested 128 identified drug barons involved in major trafficking operations across the country, noting that the arrests were the result of deliberate reforms aimed at repositioning the NDLEA for effective service delivery.
Marwa explained that in the last five years, the agency secured 14,225 convictions, strengthening deterrence and reinforcing the consequences of drug-related crimes.
“It is therefore heartwarming to note that in the last five years, we recorded significant operational successes, including the arrest of 77,792 drug offenders, including 128 identified drug barons who were central to major trafficking networks.
“We seized a total of 14.847 million kilogrammes of assorted illicit drugs, thereby significantly disrupting both local and transnational supply chains.
“In further strengthening the criminal justice response to drug offences, the agency successfully prosecuted and secured convictions against 14,225 offenders, reinforcing deterrence and affirming that drug crime attracts consequences,” he said.
Marwa further stressed that beyond enforcement, the NDLEA intensified efforts at drug demand reduction, revealing that 32,442 drug users benefited from counselling, treatment, and rehabilitation programmes nationwide.
He added that the agency conducted 13,735 sensitisation activities under its War Against Drug Abuse campaign across schools, markets, motor parks, workplaces, worship centres, and communities to curb substance abuse and promote preventive awareness.
The NDLEA boss attributed the achievements to improved intelligence gathering, inter-agency collaboration, capacity building, and enhanced welfare for the agency’s officers and men, as well as sustained motivation through internal reward mechanisms.
“We will not rest until every drug baron is behind bars, every trafficker is intercepted, every mule is caught, and every single gram of illicit drug is removed from our streets.
“There is no room for complacency. We must remain proactive, intelligence-led, and ruthless in our pursuit of those who seek to destroy our youth and national security. Let me be clear, the objective of this agency remains the total disruption of drug trafficking and the protection of our communities,” he said.
