The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has arrested 40,887 drug offenders, including 45 barons, and seized more than 5.5 million kilogrammes of illicit substances over the past two years.
Chairman, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, announced the figures on Wednesday in Abuja at the commissioning of 48 operational vehicles for the agency’s strategic commands. He said the seizures were made nationwide, including on streets, at ports, and from 704 hectares of cannabis farms hidden in forests.
The agency also secured 8,682 convictions, rehabilitated 24,173 drug users in 30 centres, and held 8,698 sensitisation activities under its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign.
Marwa warned that illicit drugs fuel crimes such as kidnapping, armed robbery, insurgency, and cult violence, and called for sharper intelligence, stronger community engagement, and better logistics to sustain progress.
Attorney-General Lateef Fagbemi, Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Christopher Musa, and Bureau of Public Procurement DG Adebowale Adedokun praised NDLEA’s achievements. Fifteen newly promoted Commanders of Narcotics were also decorated at the event.
