The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), has declared that Nigeria is no longer a haven for drug traffickers, following five years of intensified anti-drug operations that yielded 77,792 arrests, including 128 drug barons, 14,225 convictions, and the seizure of over 14.8 million kilograms of illicit substances.
Marwa made the statement during the 11th Chairman/Chief Executive Officer (CCEO) Awards and Commendation ceremony at the NDLEA National Headquarters in Abuja, where he also honoured 166 personnel and 17 Commands for exceptional service.
“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 haven for illicit drug enterprise.”
He highlighted the agency’s operational successes over the past five years, noting:
“It’s therefore heartwarming to note that in the last five years, we recorded significant operational successes, including the arrest of 77,792 drug offenders, including 128 identified drug barons who were central to major trafficking networks. We seized a total of 14,847,486.34 kilograms of assorted illicit drugs, thereby significantly disrupting both local and transnational supply chains. In further strengthening the criminal justice response to drug offences, the Agency successfully prosecuted and secured convictions against 14,225 offenders, reinforcing deterrence and affirming that drug crime attracts consequences.”
Marwa also emphasised the NDLEA’s commitment to demand reduction and prevention efforts. “Through structured treatment, counselling, and rehabilitation programmes, 32,442 drug users received professional intervention. Additionally, 13,735 War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities were conducted across schools, motor parks, workplaces, worship centres, and communities, expanding preventive awareness and citizen engagement nationwide,” he said.
Acknowledging the support of government institutions, Marwa expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for extending his mandate, calling it “a call to escalate the war against drug abuse and trafficking to new heights.”
“These achievements are not accidental. They are the result of discipline, leadership, intelligence-led operations, and clear performance expectations,” he said. “The successes of the past five years are merely a foundation. In this second tenure, we will escalate the war against drug abuse and trafficking to new heights of efficiency and results.”
Marwa further charged NDLEA personnel to intensify their operations. “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. There is no room for complacency. We must remain proactive, intelligence-led, and relentless in our pursuit of those who seek to destroy our youth and our national security,” he said.
The CCEO Awards also recognised gallant NDLEA personnel who demonstrated exceptional courage and integrity.
Marwa urged the awardees to view their accolades as motivation while calling on all officers to maintain the momentum.
“Our dedication to duty has been the driving force behind our good performance; at the same time, it is catalysed by motivation. Management is committed to doing everything possible to improve productivity on the job,” he said.
He also acknowledged the crucial contributions of international partners, sister agencies, civil society, and the media, calling for strengthened strategic partnerships to secure Nigeria’s future.
