NDLEA Takes The Fight Against Illicit Drugs To Another Level

…Records 50,901 arrests and 9,034 convictions.

The fight against illicit drug trafficking, trading, and use received a massive boost when the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) commissioned an operational facility built for the Agency by the UK Government on Monday 15th April 2024 in Lagos, Nigeria.

Speaking during the occasion monitored on Superscreen TV, the NDLEA Boss also disclosed that the agency has made arrests of 50,901 drug offenders, including 46 barons, and successfully prosecuted and secured the conviction of 9,034 of them, adding that the agency also recorded the seizure of over 7,561 tonnes of illicit substances within the last three years. General Marwa said that these successes have helped to send the right messages to drug cartels and their kingpins that Nigeria will not tolerate their criminal activities. Marwa stated this in Lagos in his remarks at the commissioning and handing over ceremony of an operational facility built and donated to NDLEA by the British government, which he commended for the generous support saying that it will further boost the capability of the anti-narcotic agency to tackle the menace of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria.

According to him, “We gather here not just to commission a new building complex but to celebrate a significant milestone in our ongoing fight against the scourge of licit and illicit drug trafficking. Today, we commission the newly acquired building, a project made possible through the generous support of the British Government. I must begin by expressing our deepest gratitude to the British Government, for their unwavering commitment and invaluable contributions to our cause. From the onset of our collaboration, the UK has been a steadfast ally in our relentless pursuit to neutralize transnational organized criminal activities, particularly in the realm of illicit drug production and trafficking.” He further stated that the building complex stands not only as a physical structure but as a symbol of the enduring partnership between Nigeria and the United Kingdom in the global fight against drug trafficking. It represents the culmination of years of cooperation, mutual trust, and shared determination to combat one of the most pressing threats to our societies.

It can be recalled that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has achieved significant strides in recent times with its serial successes in curbing the rising scourge of drug abuse, illicit drug trade, and transnational trafficking of substances through its intelligence-led nationwide campaigns across Nigeria, particularly at the various land, sea, and air borders in the country. The agency has also taken its nationwide campaigns to school campuses, marketplaces, and religious organizations while also increasing its network of narco-surveillance capabilities on the highways across the length and breadth of the country.

“The significance of this project cannot be overstated. It will serve as a vital hub for data analysis and strategic planning in our efforts to disrupt drug trafficking networks and apprehend those responsible. With state-of-the-art facilities and technology at our disposal, we are better equipped than ever before to tackle this complex and ever-evolving challenge head-on” the NDLEA Boss said.

Speaking further on the successes of the NDLEA, Gen. Marwa said the agency has undergone a tremendous reformation, with its metamorphosis catalyzed by partners like the United Kingdom, resulting in remarkable achievements. He said, “Our seizure of 7,560,748.5 kilograms (7,561 tonnes) not only disrupts the flow of illegal drugs but also serves as a significant blow to the criminal networks responsible for their distribution. We have taken decisive action against illicit drug crop cultivation with our search-and-destroy campaign against cannabis plantations which have led to the destruction of 1,057.33348 hectares of cannabis farms in the past three years.”

While acknowledging officials of the British government who facilitated the realization of the project, the NDLEA boss called for the strengthening of the existing partnership between Nigeria and the UK, and urged for continuous collaboration across borders and boundaries, to disrupt criminal networks, intercept illegal drugs, and bring to justice those who seek to profit from the illicit drug trade. Marwa however stated that though so much has been achieved under his leadership of the agency, the battle against illicit drugs is far from over.

Also speaking at the ceremony, British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Jonny Baxter assured of continued support to NDLEA and Nigeria stating that the UK government is delighted to have this long-standing relationship with the NDLEA. Mr. Baxter expressed continued support for the NDLEA and the Nigerian government in its quest to tackle a global menace.

(c) 15th April 2024