.Times have changed,w
e’refully prepared to hold those wodefy the law accountable,
and Oyo state, in what is till date the largest volume of seizures to be set ablaze at atimein the
destroye dinclude 123 kilograms of cocaine; 46.8kilogramsofheroin;1.4millionkilogramsof
Marwa warns barons, traffickers
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)operate sunderaclear mandate to reduce
providing the leadership and political will required to eradicate this menace. At the NDLEA,
Thepublicdestructionoftheillicitsubstanceswitnessedbyrepresentativesofgovernment
substancesposetopublichealthuntiltheyarecompletelyandirreversiblydestroyed.The
weighingabout1.6millionkilogramsofassortedillicitsubstancesseizedacrossLagos,Ogun
historyoftheAgency.
totalsapproximately1.6millionkilograms,servesasareminderofthegravedangerthese
theillicitdrugtrade,wewillpersistinremindingthemthattimeshavechanged.The
administrationofPresidentBolaAhmedTinuburemainsunwaveringinitscommitmentto
Inthepastfouryears,wehavesuccessfullyprosecutedandgotconvicted10,572such
Oyo
BubaMarwa(Rtd)saidtheexerciseisatestamenttotheAgency’ssteadfastcommitmentto
diligence”,hestated.
officials,traditionalrulers,clergymen,othersecurityagencies,internationalpartners,NGOs
TheNationalDrugLawEnforcementAgency,NDLEA,hasdestroyedheapsofillicitdrugs
Lagos-Ibadanexpressway,OgunstateonSaturday12thApril2025.Someoftheillicitdrugs
cannabis;148,000kilogramsofcodeinesyrup;3,244.26kilogramsoftramadol;1,544
kilogramsofskuchies;and111kilogramsofmethamphetamine,amongothers.
breathingspaceoranysafehavenfortheminNigeria.Inhiswords,“Tothosestillinvolvedin
andcommunityleaders,amongothers,wasconductedatanisolatedlocationatIpara,along
Speakingattheoccasion,Chairman/ChiefExecutiveOfficerofNDLEA,BrigGenMohamed
tacklingthescourgeofdrugtraffickinginthecountry.“Thesheervolumeofseizures,which
wearefullypreparedtopursueourobjectiveofholdingaccountablethosewhodefythelaw.
Hewarnedthoseinvolvedindrugtraffickingthatthetimeshavechangedandtherewillbeno
thesenarcoticstorubble.Atalltimes,wedischargethisdutywiththeutmostseriousnessand
offenders,whoarenowservingvariousjailterms.”
HeexpressedappreciationtoGovernorBabajideSanwo-OluofLagos,GovernorDapo
determination,italsounderscoresthescaleofthechallengewecontinuetoface.”
themhavebeenbroughttoclosure,followingarrestsandsuccessfulprosecution”,hestated.
Command,OyoStateCommand,MMIAStrategicCommand,LagosSeaports,IdirokoBorder
Command,andSemeBorderCommand”,addingthat“whilethisaccomplishmentreflectsour
ensurethatwedonotfailinourassignedtaskofcurbingillicitdrugtrafficking”,Marwa
thankedbothlocalandinternationalpartnerswhohavecontinuedtocontributetothesuccess
TheNDLEAbosswhowasrepresentedattheoccasionbytheAgency’sDirectorofAssets
AbiodunofOgunandGovernorSeyiMakindeofOyofortheirsupportfortheCommandsand
Whilecommendingtheunwaveringdedicationofourofficers,“whoareworkingtirelesslyto
stakeholdersincludingtheNigerianMilitary,Customs,Police,CivilDefence,Immigration,
Abiodunsaid“Wemustinvestinpreventionthrougheducation,throughcounselingandyouth
NDLEAZone9andZone11,whichcomprisetheLagosStrategicCommand,OgunState
US;UnitedKingdomBorderForce;NationalCrimeAgency(NCA)oftheUK,theFrench
thepublicdestructionofthelargestseizednarcoticsacrossaspectrumofcommandsunder
Administration(US-DEA);InternationalNarcoticsandLawEnforcementBureau(INL)ofthe
stated,addingthatthestategovernmentremainsacommittedpartnerinthefightagainstdrug
andFinancialInvestigation(DAFI),Dr.IbrahimAbdul,justifiedthepublicdestructionofthe
necessaryforeffectivedrugcontrolinsociety”,headded.
operationsoftheAgencyintheirrespectivestates.
leadershipandpersonnelofNDLEAfortheircourage,professionalism,consistenteffortsin
illicitdrugtrafficking.Thisexerciseisnotmerelysymbolicitisforensic,groundedin
Whilenotingthatthedrugscourgeisasocial,economicandpublichealthcrisis,Governor
IamalsodeeplygratefultoFirstBankofNigeria,FidelityBank,SterlingBank,andother
relatedcrime.
FRSC,NAFDAC,andahostofothersfortheirsupport,embodyingthecollaborativespirit
Inhisremarkattheceremony,Ogunstategovernor,PrinceDapoAbiodunrepresentedbyhis
SpecialAdviseronSecurity,AIGOlusolaSubair(Rtd)commendedtheeffortsofthe
empowermentinitiatives.Wemuststrengthenrehabilitationcentresandprovidesupport
items.Thesubstancesaredestroyedwiththeapprovalofthecourtafterthecaseslinkedto
HesaidtheeventrepresentsasignificantmilestoneinthehistoryoftheAgencybecause“Itis
“Likewise,ourinternationalpartnerssuchastheUnitedStatesDrugEnforcement
Police;theGermanPolice,andotherswhoareplayingpivotalrolesinbolsteringourefforts.
makingthisprocessopen,weaffirmourcollectiveresolveagainsttheinsidiousactivitiesof
confiscateddrugs.“Therationaleissimple:toshowtransparencyandaccountability.By
of the work of the Agency.
lives,in strengthening communities and up holding the rule of law is well appreciated”,he
evidence.Random laboratory tests are carried out to confirm the authenticity of the seized
intercepting illicit drugs before they get to communities
and streets.“Theirworkinsaving
systems for those battling addiction.