The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced a six month crackdown on drug trafficking in Nigeria, with the seizure of over 739,000 kilograms of illicit drugs and the arrest of 8,228 suspects between January and June 2024.
According to data obtained exclusively by PUNCH Online, NDLEA also secured 1,823 convictions, charged 2,554 cases to court, and counselled 3,340 individuals during the period under review.
A breakdown of the data reveals that cannabis accounted for the largest share of seized drugs, with over 257,000 kilograms confiscated.
Other illicit drugs seized include cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, Tramadol, Rohypnol, codeine, diazepam, and other substances.
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The agency also destroyed 182,650.85 kilograms of cannabis farms and distributed 792,065 educational materials to the public.
In terms of arrests, January saw the highest number of suspects apprehended, with 1,317 individuals taken into custody. The agency charged 364 cases to court in January and secured 330 convictions.
The NDLEA’s efforts have been bolstered by recent approvals from the Federal Executive Council, including $1.442 billion for the procurement of arms, ammunition, and equipment, as well as N1.9 billion for the purchase of vehicles and N985 million for the procurement of full-body scanners for two international airports.
The agency’s Chairman, Brig Gen Buba Marwa (retd), stated that the recent training of marine command officers in diving will deter large shipments of cocaine to Nigeria, sending a strong message to international drug cartels.
