Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested no fewer than 14,480 suspected drug traffickers between January and October 2024.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (retd), disclosed this during a briefing with members of the House of Representatives Committee on Narcotic Drugs, who were on an oversight visit to the agency’s national headquarters in Abuja.
Details of this was also contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by the agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi.
In addition to the arrests, the operatives also recovered illicit drugs weighing 2.4 million kilograms from seaports, airports, land borders, and communities nationwide within the same period.
With this, Marwa said, the anti-narcotics is on course to exceed the performance of the previous three years. He added that during the same period, the agency secured 2,867 convictions in court.
“In the past 10 months, the agency counselled and rehabilitated 6,655 drug users. Additionally, 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.”
Marwa highlighted key milestones achieved in 2024, including the largest single heroin seizure in the agency’s history—51.90 kg at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in February. He also noted the successful arrests of notorious drug barons, the securing of life imprisonment sentences for some offenders, and the recent passage of the NDLEA Act amendment bill.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the House Committee on Narcotic Drugs, Hon. Abass Adigun, praised the agency’s leadership and personnel for their commitment despite operating under challenging conditions.
“As we carry out 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,” Adigun assured.
