By Our Reporter
Abuja — The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has recorded significant achievements in Nigeria’s fight against drug trafficking, arresting 77,792 suspects, including 128 drug barons, securing 14,225 convictions, and seizing more than 14.8 million kilograms of illicit drugs over the past five years.
Chairman and Chief Executive of the agency, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), disclosed the figures on Tuesday at the 11th CCEO Awards ceremony held in Abuja, describing the results as evidence of sustained reforms and intensified enforcement across the country.
“Nigeria is no longer a safe haven for drug cartels. Our operations have disrupted major trafficking networks and sent a clear message to criminals,” Marwa said.
He attributed the successes to aggressive, intelligence-led operations, improved inter-agency collaboration, and enhanced capacity building for officers and operatives. Marwa urged NDLEA personnel to remain focused and resilient in the ongoing war against narcotics.
“We will not rest until every trafficker, and every gram of illicit drug is removed from our streets,” he added.
Beyond enforcement, the NDLEA boss highlighted the agency’s strong commitment to drug demand reduction and public health interventions. According to him, 32,442 drug users have received treatment and rehabilitation, while 13,735 drug awareness and sensitisation programmes have been carried out nationwide to discourage substance abuse, especially among young people.
“These preventive efforts are critical to breaking the cycle of addiction and criminality. Enforcement alone is not enough; education and rehabilitation must go hand in hand,” Marwa noted.
He expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his continued support, noting that strong political will has helped the agency strengthen logistics, manpower, and operational efficiency.
Marwa also called for deeper collaboration with international partners, civil society groups, state governments, and community stakeholders to sustain the momentum and expand the impact of anti-drug campaigns.
The NDLEA’s performance has drawn commendation from security stakeholders, who say the agency’s consistent seizures and high conviction rate demonstrate renewed effectiveness in tackling organised drug trafficking and abuse in Nigeria.
As the agency intensifies its operations, Marwa reaffirmed NDLEA’s commitment to protecting public health, enhancing national security, and ensuring that Nigeria remains hostile terrain for drug cartels and criminal networks.
