By Deborah Nnamdi
The Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) said the agency had arrested 14, 480 suspected drug traffickers between January and October 2024 in connection with the seizure of 2.4 million kilograms of assorted illicit drugs seized by the anti-narcotics agency at seaports, airports, land borders and communities across the country.
Marwa stated this on Wednesday while briefing members of the House of Representatives Committee on Narcotic Drugs on an oversight visit.
Marwa said with the record of work done by the agency in the past 10 months, they can say with certainty that they are on course to beat the performance of the previous three years.
According to him, the 14 480 recorded arrests include 15 drug barons. They also secured 2,867 convictions in court. Which is far more than what they achieved in each of the past three years.
“We successfully located and destroyed 547, 378 kilograms of cannabis plantations. Similarly, our drug demand reduction figure is on the positive side. In the past 10 months, the agency counselled and rehabilitated 6, 655 drug users. In the breath, we conducted a total of 3 064 awareness campaigns and sensitization lectures in schools, motor parks, worship centers, workplaces, and communities, among others, which reached 1 327 181 people.”
He cited the largest single heroin seizure of 51.90kg in the history of the agency at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in February; securing life imprisonment sentences for some notorious drug traffickers; arrest of most wanted drug barons in Lagos and the recent passage of the NDLEA Act amendment bill as some of the milestones of the Agency in 2024.
Marwa commended the lawmakers for their support in the outgoing year and urged them to remain steadfast so that the Agency can achieve more.
“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 watershed is very much in your power to do. While we thank you immensely for bringing us this far with your support, we look forward to more of that support that will put us on a pedestal where we will be sufficiently funded to work at our optimal best”, the NDLEA boss added.
In his remarks, Chairman of the House Committee on Narcotic Drugs, Hon. 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.
