NDLEA shatters records: 14,480 drug traffickers arrested, 2.4M kg of drugs seized
NDLEA Chairman, Mohammed Buba Marwa
Published By: Kazeem Ugbodaga
By Kazeem Ugbodaga
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), has revealed that 14,480 suspected drug traffickers were arrested between January and October 2024 in connection with the seizure of 2.4 million kilogrammes of assorted illicit drugs.
These drugs were seized by the anti-narcotics agency at seaports, airports, land borders, and communities across the country.
Marwa made the statement on Wednesday, 4th December 2024, while briefing members of the House of Representatives Committee on Narcotic Drugs, who were on an oversight visit to the NDLEA national headquarters in Abuja.
He noted that, based on the agency’s performance over the past 10 months, “we can say with certainty that we are on course to surpass the performance of the previous three years.”
He explained, “Between 1st January and 30th October 2024, we recorded 14,480 arrests of drug offenders, including 15 drug barons. During the same period, we secured 2,867 convictions in court. This is far more than what we achieved in each of the past three years.
“Our seizures in 10 months amounted to 2.4 million kilograms of illicit drugs, which also surpassed last year’s record. We successfully located and destroyed 547,378 kilograms of cannabis plantations. Similarly, our drug demand reduction figures are positive.
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“In the past 10 months, the agency counselled and rehabilitated 6,655 drug users. Furthermore, we conducted a total of 3,064 awareness campaigns and sensitisation lectures in schools, motor parks, worship centres, workplaces, and communities, reaching 1,327,181 people.”
He cited several milestones for the agency in 2024, including the largest single heroin seizure of 51.90kg in the agency’s history at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in February, the securing of life imprisonment sentences for notorious drug traffickers, the arrest of the most wanted drug barons in Lagos, and the recent passage of the NDLEA Act amendment bill.
While commending the lawmakers for their support over the past year, Marwa urged them to remain committed to ensuring further success.
“In the past three years, we have harnessed and maximised the limited resources at our disposal to achieve impressive results. We can do more, and we are eager to do more if given adequate resources. So, I implore you not to relent or become weary in your oversight responsibilities to ensure we are 100 percent mobilised in all our operations. We have come a long way, from an agency that was grossly emasculated due to a lack of resources to a government organisation that is now performing effectively.”
“We are only a short distance away from attaining full strength to achieve all our set objectives that will make Nigeria safe from the scourge of illicit drugs. Pushing us to reach that milestone is very much in your power. While we thank you immensely for bringing us this far with your support, we look forward to more of that support that will place us in a position where we are sufficiently funded to work at our optimal best,” the NDLEA boss added.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the House Committee on Narcotic Drugs, Abass Adigun, commended the leadership and personnel of the agency for their dedication to duty despite the often challenging circumstances under which they operate.
“As we conduct our oversight responsibilities, I assure you of our committee’s unwavering support in ensuring that the NDLEA remains adequately equipped to fulfil its mission. This includes advocating for improved funding, modern tools, and a conducive working environment for all staff,” the lawmaker assured.
