The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has disclosed that it arrested 77,792 individuals for drug-related offences and confiscated 14,847 kilograms of illicit substances over the last five years.
The agency’s Chairman, Retired Brigadier General Buba Marwa, revealed this on Tuesday during an award and commendation ceremony held at the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja.
Marwa said the large-scale seizures represented a significant disruption to both domestic and international drug trafficking networks, stressing that the operations sent a clear warning that Nigeria would no longer tolerate illicit drug activities. He noted that those arrested within the period included 128 identified drug barons, highlighting the depth and reach of the agency’s enforcement drive.
According to him, the NDLEA also recorded 14,225 convictions during the five-year period, reinforcing accountability and demonstrating the legal consequences associated with drug crimes.
“It is 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,” Marwa said.
He added, “We seized a total of 14,847,000 kilograms of assorted illicit drugs, thereby significantly disrupting both local and transnational supply chains.” Marwa further explained that the agency strengthened the criminal justice response by prosecuting offenders and securing convictions, noting that “drug crime attracts consequences.”
Beyond enforcement, the NDLEA chairman said the agency intensified efforts to reduce drug demand nationwide. He disclosed that 32,442 people benefited from NDLEA’s counselling, treatment, and rehabilitation programmes, while 13,735 sensitisation activities were carried out under the War Against Drug Abuse campaign across schools, markets, motor parks, workplaces, religious centres, and communities.
Marwa reaffirmed the agency’s determination to sustain pressure on traffickers, dismantle drug networks, and rid Nigerian streets of illicit substances, pledging that all identified drug barons would be brought to justice.
What you should know
The NDLEA’s latest figures highlight a sustained and coordinated crackdown on drug trafficking and abuse in Nigeria over the past five years.
The arrest of thousands of offenders, including high-profile drug barons, alongside large-scale seizures, reflects a stronger enforcement posture and expanded intelligence-led operations. At the same time, the agency’s emphasis on rehabilitation and public sensitisation shows a dual strategy focused on both supply reduction and demand control.
Together, these efforts underscore the government’s broader commitment to tackling drug-related crime and its social consequences nationwide.
