The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has disclosed that it has successfully seized more than 11.2 million kilograms of assorted illicit drugs and apprehended over 67,000 suspects within a 54-month period, signalling an aggressive and sustained clampdown on drug trafficking and abuse across Nigeria.
According to figures released by the agency, the crackdown spans from January 2020 to July 2024, during which a wide range of narcotics including cannabis, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, tramadol, codeine-based syrups, and other psychotropic substances were intercepted across states, land borders, seaports, and airports. The NDLEA noted that the operations were part of its intensified nationwide campaign to dismantle drug networks, rehabilitate users, and curtail the rise in drug-related criminality.
Speaking on the development, the Chairman and Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), attributed the agency’s success to strategic intelligence-led operations, community engagement, improved inter-agency collaboration, and enhanced training and equipment for operatives. He noted that the war against drugs is no longer business as usual, warning that traffickers and barons will continue to face stiff resistance.
Marwa revealed that within the same period, the agency secured over 11,000 convictions and recorded thousands of ongoing prosecutions. In addition to arrests, the NDLEA also destroyed hundreds of hectares of cannabis farms and intercepted multi-billion-naira drug consignments destined for both local consumption and international smuggling routes.
He further disclosed that several drug syndicates with international links had been dismantled, while high-profile individuals involved in trafficking—including foreign nationals—have also been arrested. Assets linked to illicit drug proceeds, including vehicles, properties, and funds, have been traced, seized, and are undergoing legal forfeiture processes.
Beyond enforcement, the agency reported significant progress in public sensitisation and rehabilitation efforts. NDLEA treatment centres across the country, in collaboration with state governments and non-governmental organisations, have facilitated the rehabilitation of thousands of drug-dependent individuals. Education campaigns have also been intensified in schools, religious centres, and marketplaces to address the growing social impact of drug abuse.
As Nigeria grapples with the twin threats of drug addiction and trafficking, the NDLEA reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining pressure on the supply chain while also addressing demand through prevention and recovery-based interventions. The agency called for stronger community cooperation and renewed legislative backing to ensure that the gains made in recent years are not eroded.
With the volume of seizures and the number of arrests recorded in less than five years, analysts say the figures underscore both the scale of the challenge and the agency’s growing capacity to respond. The NDLEA, under the current leadership, appears determined to leave no hiding place for drug criminals, whether within the country or along its complex international trafficking corridors.