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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested 77,792 drug suspects and seized 14,847 kilograms of illicit drugs over the past five years, its chairman, Buba Marwa, said on Tuesday.
Marwa, a retired brigadier general, disclosed this during an award and commendation ceremony for NDLEA personnel at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
He said the seizures disrupted both local and international drug trafficking networks and signalled that Nigeria would no longer tolerate illicit drug activities.
According to Marwa, 128 suspected drug barons were among those arrested during the period, adding that the agency secured 14,225 convictions.
“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,” Marwa stated.
“We seized a total of 14,847,000 kilograms of assorted illicit drugs, thereby significantly disrupting both local and transnational supply chains.
“In further strengthening the criminal justice response to drug offenses, the agency successfully prosecuted and secured convictions against 14,225 offenders, reinforcing deterrence and affirming that drug crime attracts consequences.”
Beyond enforcement, he said 32,442 people benefited from the agency’s counselling, treatment, and rehabilitation programmes, while 13,735 awareness campaigns were carried out nationwide under the War Against Drug Abuse initiative.
Marwa said the NDLEA would continue efforts to arrest drug traffickers, dismantle drug networks, and remove illicit drugs from Nigerian communities.
