…NDLEA Seizes 5.3 Million Kilograms of Illicit Drugs Worth N1.5tn

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to tackling substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking through innovative, evidence-based interventions, declaring that his administration will continue to strengthen prevention, enforcement and rehabilitation efforts to protect the country’s future.

The President made the pledge on Friday in Abuja at the grand finale of activities marking the 2026 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, themed “The World Drug Problem: Persisting Issues, New Challenges, Innovative Responses.” He was represented by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).

Tinubu said the evolving nature of the global drug problem requires sustained vigilance, stronger collaboration and the deployment of science and technology to combat emerging threats.

He noted that beyond affecting individual users, drug abuse undermines families, schools, workplaces and national security.

According to him, the Federal Government is addressing the challenge through its Renewed Hope Agenda by expanding access to education, promoting skills acquisition, supporting entrepreneurship, creating jobs and implementing social intervention programmes aimed at reducing the factors that make young people vulnerable to drug abuse and criminal activities.

The President also stressed the need for stronger border management, enhanced surveillance at ports, airports and land borders, improved intelligence gathering and closer cooperation among national and international law enforcement agencies.

He said government would continue investing in forensic laboratories, technological capabilities and scientific research to strengthen the country’s ability to detect new psychoactive substances and precursor chemicals.

Tinubu commended the leadership of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), led by Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), for what he described as remarkable achievements in arrests, drug seizures, convictions, rehabilitation and the dismantling of major drug trafficking syndicates.

He specifically praised the agency for uncovering and dismantling the country’s largest methamphetamine laboratory, describing the successes as evidence of his administration’s zero tolerance for organised crime.

The President, however, stressed that government alone could not win the war against drugs, urging parents, schools, religious and traditional leaders, the media and the private sector to play active roles in prevention, awareness and rehabilitation efforts.

Earlier, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), said the agency had intensified intelligence-driven operations against drug trafficking networks despite increasingly sophisticated criminal methods.

Marwa disclosed that within the last 18 months alone, the NDLEA arrested 29,262 suspects, seized 5,305,484.88 kilograms of assorted illicit drugs valued at over N1.5 trillion, and secured 5,225 convictions.

He said the agency had also arrested 234 drug barons over the past five years, significantly weakening major trafficking networks operating within and outside Nigeria.

Highlighting recent breakthroughs, Marwa revealed that the NDLEA, working with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (US-DEA) and law enforcement agencies from Greece, France and Switzerland, dismantled the notorious Amadi Simon drug cartel.

He added that the agency also neutralised a transcontinental methamphetamine syndicate, leading to the arrest of 63-year-old alleged drug kingpin Innocent Anochili, three Mexican nationals and six Nigerian accomplices.

According to him, another major operation led to the discovery of an industrial-scale clandestine methamphetamine laboratory hidden in a forest in Tapa village, Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo State, where one Mexican national and four others were arrested.

Marwa said the NDLEA had also strengthened its drug demand reduction initiatives through its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign.

He disclosed that the agency conducted 6,645 drug prevention awareness programmes across schools, worship centres, workplaces, markets, motor parks, correctional centres and communities, reaching nearly five million Nigerians.

He added that 13,508 drug users had received counselling, treatment and rehabilitation across the agency’s 31 rehabilitation centres nationwide during the same period.

Marwa further announced that the NDLEA was expanding the use of technology, deep-web intelligence and advanced data analytics to detect emerging drug trends while upgrading its forensic capabilities.

He also highlighted the agency’s Alternative Development Programme, described as the first of its kind in Africa, aimed at helping illicit cannabis farmers transition to cultivating legitimate crops such as cassava, maize, cocoa and cowpeas.

Also speaking, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Country Representative, Chiekh Touré, represented by Dr. Akanidomo Ibanga, commended the Federal Government for adopting a balanced approach that combines supply reduction with prevention, treatment and respect for human rights.

The event also featured the presentation of prizes to winners of the NDLEA National Secondary School Essay Competition. Ikpeamachi Jennifer of Federal Government College, Enugu, won the first prize of N500,000, while Aliyu Kama of General Murtala Muhammed College, Yola, and Chiagoziem Ikechukwu of Mimshak Academy, Abia State, received the second and third prizes of N300,000 and N200,000 respectively.