Drug war: Over 16,304 arrested in 10 months – Marwa
Quick Read
In the first 10 months of this year alone, we have recorded over 16,304 arrests and have successfully prosecuted and secured the conviction of about 3,000 drug offenders with hundreds of cases ongoing in court.
By Isa Isawade
Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd.) said the agency arrested over 16,304 drug suspects and seized 4.5 million kilograms of illicit substances between January and October 2025.
Marwa disclosed this at the 7th Security and Emergency Management Awards and Lecture (SAEMA) on Wednesday in Abuja.
According to him, as an agency mandated to curb illicit drug problems, the NDLEA under his leadership has responded to the challenge by pursuing a two-pronged strategy.
The first, he said, is Supply Reduction, which entails closing down the supply pipelines of illicit drugs. He said the agency achieved that through intelligence-led operations, interdictions, and international collaborations.
“By these means, we have intercepted tons of narcotics, dismantled cartels, and prosecuted offenders.
“From our borders to our airports and seaports, our officers remain resolute and execute their job without fear or favour. Gratifyingly, we are getting good results.
“In the first 10 months of this year alone, we have recorded over 16,304 arrests and have successfully prosecuted and secured the conviction of about 3,000 drug offenders with hundreds of cases ongoing in court.
“In the same vein, we have seized 4.5 million kilograms of illicit substances.
“We go the extra mile deep into the forests to locate cannabis plantations and destroy them.
“In these operations, we have destroyed 612.2864 hectares of cannabis farms within the same 10-month period,” Marwa said.
The second, he said, was the Demand Reduction, which entailed ensuring a near-zero demand for illicit drugs by users.
To achieve this, he said the agency launched a social advocacy campaign- War Against Drug Abuse (WADA).
“This comprehensive, grassroots-driven initiative is designed to awaken every citizen, family, and institution to their role in the collective effort to stamp out the ills of illicit drugs in our society,” he said.
According to him, through WADA, the agency has entered “schools, markets, places of worship, traditional institutions and communities to spread the message that drug abuse was not a private vice but a national menace.”
Comments