The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced that it secured the conviction of 9,263 drug offenders out of 45,853 suspects arrested across the country within the last 30 months.
According to the agency, over 8.5 million kilograms of various illicit drugs were seized in multiple operations conducted nationwide during the same period.
The NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, noting that the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (Retd.), revealed the figures while presenting commendation letters to 220 personnel for outstanding performance.
Babafemi said the arrests, seizures, and prosecutions have significantly contributed to reducing both the demand and supply of illicit drugs in Nigeria.
Marwa, while commending the awardees, stated, “Today, we specifically recognise those who have gone above and beyond. We celebrate those who, despite facing immense danger and relentless temptation, chose the path of integrity, selflessness, and uncompromising adherence to our mandate. Your commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration of President Bola Tinubu has yielded tremendous results in the past 30 months in our two major areas — drug demand reduction and drug supply reduction.”
He revealed that within the same period, the agency recorded 45,853 arrests, seized over 8.5 million kilograms of assorted illicit drugs, and secured 9,263 convictions.
Marwa further disclosed that 26,613 drug users have been counselled and rehabilitated in NDLEA treatment facilities across the country, while a total of 9,848 sensitisation campaigns under the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative were conducted in schools, workplaces, markets, motor parks, worship centres, and communities nationwide.
He acknowledged that combating drug trafficking remains a monumental challenge, describing it as an existential threat to Nigeria’s social fabric, economic stability, and national security.
Marwa said, “Drug abuse, trafficking, and the associated criminal enterprises fuel crime, corrupt our youth, and provide resources for terrorism and insurgency. But for every kilogram of cocaine intercepted, every clandestine laboratory dismantled, and every major drug kingpin apprehended, a critical blow is delivered to these criminal networks.”
He commended the Federal Government for its continued support, which he said has strengthened the agency’s capacity to tackle drug trafficking, and also expressed appreciation to international partners, the media, the Senate, the Attorney-General of the Federation, and other stakeholders for their collaboration in the national campaign against illicit drugs.
Recent reports indicate that the NDLEA has continued to make large-scale seizures in various operations. On October 8, the agency arrested 54 suspects and destroyed 66 kilograms of skunk cannabis in a joint operation. Similarly, data from December 2024 showed that between January and October 2024 alone, the agency arrested 14,480 suspects and seized 2.4 million kilograms of illicit drugs, reflecting a steady increase in enforcement activity.
