NDLEA Destroys N301bn Worth of Cocaine, Heroin, Opioids, Other Illicit Drugs in Lagos
The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), has commended the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) and its Executive Secretary/CEO, Dr. Ayodele Ogunsan, for their sustained support and collaboration in the fight against illicit drugs and the drive to build a drug-free society.
Marwa gave the commendation as the NDLEA publicly destroyed illicit drugs valued at approximately N301.058 billion in Lagos, in an exercise that underscored the alarming scale of Nigeria’s drug problem and the importance of strong partnerships among security agencies and other stakeholders.
At the ceremony, held on Monday, August 17, at Navy Town, Ojo, Lagos, Marwa personally presented an award of recognition to Dr. Ogunsan in appreciation of the LSSTF’s “collaboration and demonstrable partnership for a drug-free society.” The award, however, was received on behalf of the LSSTF CEO by the Fund’s Director of Administration, Mr. Adegbola Lewis.
The recognition highlights the growing importance of strategic partnerships in Nigeria’s security architecture, particularly as agencies such as the NDLEA confront increasingly sophisticated drug-trafficking networks.
The destruction exercise, carried out pursuant to orders of the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division, involved drugs linked to concluded cases and abandoned seizures. The NDLEA disclosed that 329,865.585 kilogrammes of assorted illicit drugs, with an estimated street value of N301,058,076,000, were destroyed.
Of the total quantity, 246,864.535 kilogrammes were seized by the Lagos Strategic Command between April 2025 and May 2026, while another 83,001.05 kilogrammes came from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Tincan and Apapa Strategic Commands, Marine Command and a Special Operations Unit.
Among the substances destroyed were cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, cannabis varieties including Canadian Loud and skunk, ephedrine, tramadol, codeine syrup, other opioids and khat leaf.
Speaking at the event, Marwa described the destruction as a powerful demonstration of Nigeria’s determination to protect its citizens and prevent criminal enterprises from profiting from the illicit drug trade.
He stressed that the significance of the drugs destroyed went far beyond their monetary value, warning of the devastating consequences of drug abuse, including addiction, broken families, impaired driving, crime and the destruction of young lives.
According to him, the illicit drug economy also poses a serious national security threat because proceeds from drug trafficking can finance organised criminal networks, terrorism and violent extremism.
Marwa issued a stern warning to drug barons, traffickers, financiers, distributors and dealers operating across the country, declaring that the NDLEA would remain resolute in dismantling their networks and financial structures.
He also commended the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Judiciary, Lagos State Government, military, sister security agencies, international partners, LSSTF, civil society organisations, traditional institutions, the media and members of the public for their contributions to the anti-drug campaign.
For the LSSTF, the recognition is significant because its security intervention model extends beyond conventional policing. Through its public-private partnership structure, the Fund mobilises resources and directs them towards critical needs across Lagos’ security architecture, including agencies such as the NDLEA.
Its interventions have included operational equipment, vehicles, infrastructure and capacity development aimed at strengthening the ability of security and law-enforcement personnel to perform effectively.
The Executive Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Abimbola Salu-Hundeyin, described the quantity of drugs destroyed as a “huge and sobering reminder” of the threat illicit substances pose to communities, young people and Nigeria’s collective future.
The Governor noted that the exercise also demonstrated what could be achieved when law enforcement, the Judiciary and government work together towards a common objective.
Similarly, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, praised the NDLEA for the scale of its seizures, describing them as a strong warning to drug dealers that they are no longer welcome in Nigeria.
He noted that drug trafficking is closely linked to violent non-state actors, stressing that narcotics provide resources that can fuel the activities of bandits, kidnappers, armed robbers, insurgents and terrorists.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Abdullahi Mustapha, assured the NDLEA of the continued support of the Nigerian Navy in the fight against illicit drugs.
Also speaking, the Commander of the NDLEA Lagos Strategic Command, ACGN Wali Liman Abubakar, appreciated the Judiciary, Lagos State Government, LSSTF and other sister security agencies for their continued collaboration and support.
He specifically acknowledged the contribution of LSSTF Executive Secretary/CEO, Dr. Ayodele Ogunsan, noting that the Fund’s partnership continues to strengthen NDLEA operations and contribute to its successes.
Abubakar urged young Nigerians to reject illicit drugs and embrace productive and healthy lifestyles, while reaffirming the NDLEA’s commitment under Marwa’s leadership to ensuring that seized drugs are permanently removed from circulation.
He said the destruction of the exhibits sends a clear message to drug traffickers and criminal organisations that their activities will not be tolerated and that Lagos remains hostile territory for drug crime.
Against this backdrop, Marwa’s recognition of Dr. Ogunsan and the LSSTF assumes even greater significance. It underscores the reality that the war against illicit drugs cannot be won through arrests, seizures and prosecutions alone.
It requires a strong ecosystem of support in which frontline agencies have access to the equipment, mobility, infrastructure, intelligence and human capacity necessary to pursue traffickers and protect vulnerable communities.
For Ogunsan and the LSSTF, the award represents a validation of the Fund’s partnership-driven approach to security intervention and an acknowledgement of the impact that sustained institutional support can have in strengthening the fight against drugs, organised crime and other security threats.
The recognition therefore stands as both a commendation of past interventions and a renewed call for stronger collaboration among government, security agencies, the private sector and communities in the collective pursuit of a safer and drug-free society.