The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it intercepted more than 5.3 million kilogrammes of illicit drugs worth about N1.5 trillion in the last 18 months.

NDLEA chairman, Buba Marwa, disclosed this on Friday in Abuja during the grand finale of the 2026 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

Mr Marwa said Nigeria remained steadfast with the global community in tackling drug trafficking and abuse, which threaten public health, national security, social stability and development.

He said the agency will continue to work round the clock in spite of increasingly sophisticated criminal networks.

“Over the past year, the agency recorded monumental operational successes through intelligence-driven enforcement, dismantling syndicates and executing unprecedented seizures across airports, seaports, land borders and communities.

“To those who think they can operate with impunity, our recent spectacular operational breakthroughs send an unmistakable message: there is no safe haven,” he said.

Mr Marwa said the NDLEA, working with the U.S. DEA and authorities in Greece, France and Switzerland, dismantled the notorious Amadi Simon drug cartel.

He said the agency also neutralised a sophisticated cross-continental methamphetamine cartel.

According to him, the operation led to the arrest of a 63-year-old Nigerian drug baron, three Mexican nationals and six Nigerian accomplices.

He said the NDLEA also uncovered another industrial-scale clandestine methamphetamine laboratory in Tapa village, Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo State.

“A Mexican and four others were arrested, while their multibillion-naira infrastructure of death was dismantled,” he said.

Mr Marwa said the NDLEA had arrested 234 drug barons coordinating major trafficking networks over the past five years.

“In the last 18 months alone, we recorded 29,262 arrests, seized 5,305,484.88 kilogrammes of illicit drugs and secured 5,225 convictions.

“These numbers represent millions of lives saved, billions of naira in criminal wealth confiscated and a future reclaimed for our youths,” Mr Marwa said.

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

According to him, the agency conducted 6,645 drug prevention and awareness programmes in schools, worship centres, workplaces, markets, motor parks, communities and correctional facilities.

He said the programmes equipped nearly five million Nigerians with life skills to resist drug abuse.

Mr Marwa added that 13,508 drug users received counselling, treatment and rehabilitation across NDLEA’s 31 rehabilitation centres nationwide.

He said the agency was strengthening technology, deep-web intelligence, data analytics and forensic capabilities to detect emerging drugs and precursor chemicals.

Mr Marwa also highlighted Africa’s first alternative development programme, designed to provide cannabis growers with legitimate livelihoods through cultivation of food and cash crops.

He thanked President Bola Tinubu for supporting the agency’s operations and anti-drug campaign.

Mr Marwa also appreciated local and international partners, civil society organisations, the media and community leaders for supporting the NDLEA.

He commended NDLEA personnel for their dedication, describing them as “the thin green line standing between safety and chaos”.

Delivering the guest lecture, Oluwatoyin Odeku of the University of Ibadan said Nigeria had made significant progress in combating illicit drugs over the past five years.

Speaking on “Celebrating Progress and Inspiring Collective Actions against Drug Abuse”, she said the achievements deserved celebration.

“When NDLEA was re-energised in 2021, many thought the drug war was unwinnable. Today, the data tells a different story,” she said.

The UNODC country representative, Chiekh Touré, commended Nigeria’s balanced approach to drug control.

Represented by Akanidomo Ibanga, Mr Touré pledged the UNODC’s continued technical support for Nigeria’s anti-drug efforts.

Other goodwill messages came from representatives of the Senate president, the House Committee on Drugs and Narcotics, Federal Ministry of Health, the FCTA, MTN Foundation and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), among others.

The event featured the presentation of prizes to winners of the NDLEA inter-secondary schools essay competition.

Ikpeamachi Jennifer of Federal Government College, Enugu, won the N500,000 first prize and trophy.

Aliyu Kama of General Murtala Muhammed College, Yola, received the N300,000 second prize, while Chiagoziem Ikechukwu of Mimshak Academy, Abia, won the N200,000 third prize and trophy. 

(NAN)