The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested no fewer than 77,792 drug offenders and seized about 14,847 kilograms of assorted illicit drugs across Nigeria in the last five years.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Brigadier-General Buba Marwa (retd.), disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja during the NDLEA Commands, Awards and Commendations Ceremony, where outstanding commands and personnel were honoured for their performance.
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Marwa said the seizures significantly disrupted local and transnational drug trafficking networks, stressing that Nigeria is no longer a safe haven for illicit drug operations.
According to him, the agency also arrested 128 identified drug barons who played central roles in major trafficking networks nationwide, noting that the achievements were driven by deliberate reforms aimed at repositioning the NDLEA for greater efficiency.
He revealed that within the same period, the agency secured 14,225 convictions, strengthening deterrence and reinforcing the consequences of drug-related crimes.
“In the last five years, we recorded significant operational successes, including the arrest of 77,792 drug offenders, among them 128 identified drug barons central to major trafficking networks,” Marwa said.
“We also seized a total of 14,847,000 kilograms of assorted illicit drugs, thereby disrupting both local and international supply chains, while securing convictions against 14,225 offenders.”
Beyond enforcement, Marwa said the NDLEA intensified drug demand reduction efforts, adding that 32,442 drug users benefited from counselling, treatment and rehabilitation programmes nationwide.
He noted that the agency also carried out 13,735 sensitisation activities under its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign across schools, markets, motor parks, workplaces, worship centres and communities.
Marwa attributed the successes to improved intelligence gathering, inter-agency collaboration, capacity building and enhanced welfare for officers, alongside sustained motivation through internal reward systems.
He also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for extending his tenure by another five years, describing the decision as a renewed call for stronger commitment in the fight against drug trafficking and abuse in Nigeria.
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