President Bola Tinubu has commended the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for “busting a Nigerian-Mexican drug syndicate and dismantling a highly sophisticated multi-million-dollar illegal drug production network in the country.”

The president’s commendation for the NDLEA was conveyed in a statement by his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, on Thursday.

“This successful operation, which led to the arrest of foreign nationals, local kingpins and other collaborators, as well as the seizure of chemicals and illicit drugs valued at over $360 million, demonstrates exceptional professionalism, courage, and unwavering commitment to safeguarding society from the devastating effects of narcotics,” Mr Tinubu said.

He added, “Drugs not only pose a critical security threat for our region, but they also pose a grave danger to the future of our youth, some of whom have become victims of the trade.”

The president urged Nigerians to support the NDLEA’s fight against drug trafficking, adding that “West Africa has become a great concern in the global war against narcotics as drug barons turn our region into a transit hub for moving cocaine, synthetic drugs and unregulated pharmaceuticals to Europe and North America.”

“I  call on all Nigerians to see the fight against illicit drugs not NDLEA’s alone. Everyone has a role to play. We must remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities within our communities to assist security agencies in combating criminal networks,” Mr Tinubu said.

According to Mr Tinubu, the arrest of a cross-border drug cartel is a strong message that security agencies will not tolerate organised crime anywhere in the country, and that those who threaten public safety and national security will face the full weight of the law.

Mr Tinubu, 74, was previously linked to a narcotics trafficking case that led to the forfeiture of $460,000 to the U.S. government in 1993. In 2022, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois released documents detailing Mr Tinubu’s encounter with American authorities over allegations of narcotics trafficking and money laundering.

For some years now, there has been a legal battle over the release of Mr Tinubu’s records, a move he has opposed.

In January, Peoples Gazette exclusively reported how Mr Tinubu spent $2.7 million to hire lobbyists in the United States to help convince lawmakers and policymakers of his personal integrity to lead Nigeria, following reputational damage linked to reports of alleged involvement in illicit drug-related and certificate fraud cases.