14.8m kilograms of drugs seized, 77,792 arrested, 14,225 convicted in 5 years — Marwa

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), has declared that the era of Nigeria serving as a safe haven for criminal drug enterprises is over. Marwa made this declaration while citing an outstanding record of 77,792 arrests—including 128 drug barons—14,225 convictions, and […]

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), has declared that the era of Nigeria serving as a safe haven for criminal drug enterprises is over.

Marwa made this declaration while citing an outstanding record of 77,792 arrests—including 128 drug barons—14,225 convictions, and the seizure of over 14.8 million kilograms of illicit substances within the last five years.

He shared these figures during his remarks at the 11th Chairman/Chief Executive Officer (CCEO) Awards and Commendation ceremony held at the Agency’s National Headquarters in Abuja.

During the event, he charged NDLEA officers to brace for more tactically sophisticated operations against drug cartels and their mules as he begins his second tenure.

“When I first resumed in 2021, I promised to take the fight to the doorsteps of the merchants of death. Today, the numbers speak for themselves,” Marwa said. “Through our collective resilience, we have sent a clear message that Nigeria is no longer a safe haven for illicit drug enterprises.”

He noted that the seizure of over 14.8 million kilograms of assorted drugs has significantly disrupted both local and transnational supply chains. Furthermore, he emphasized that the successful prosecution of over 14,000 offenders reinforces deterrence and affirms that drug crime attracts severe consequences.

Acknowledging that these achievements would not have been possible without the support of the executive, legislature, and judiciary, Marwa expressed profound appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his “unflinching support.”

He noted that the President’s decision to extend the current leadership’s mandate is a call to escalate the war against drug abuse and trafficking to new heights.

Addressing the officers of the Agency directly, Marwa said: “The next phase of our operations demands even more grit and more tactical sophistication. We will not rest until every drug baron is behind bars, every trafficker is intercepted, every mule is caught, and every single gram of illicit drug is removed from our streets and communities.”