The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig-Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (Rtd), has said no fewer than 14,480 suspected drug traffickers were apprehended between January and October 2024.
Marwa said the arrests were in connection with the seizure of 2.4m kgs of assorted illicit drugs seized by the anti-narcotics agency at seaports, airports, land borders and communities across the country.
Speaking while briefing members of the House of Representatives Committee on Narcotic Drugs who were on an oversight visit to the national headquarters of NDLEA in Abuja, Marwa explained that between January 1 and October 30, 2024, the agency recorded 14,480 arrests of drug offenders, including 15 drug barons, saying that within the same time, they have been able to secure 2,867 convictions in court.
He explained, “Our seizures in 10 months amounted to 2.4 million kilograms of illicit drugs, which also surpassed last year’s record. We successfully located and destroyed 547, 378 kilograms of cannabis plantations.”
In the past 10 months, the chairman stated that the agency counselled and rehabilitated 6, 655 drug users.
Marwa revealed the largest single heroin seizure of 51.90kgs in the history of the agency at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in February.
Abass Adigun, the chairman of the House Committee on Narcotic Drugs, lauded the leadership and personnel of the agency for their dedication to duty despite the often-challenging circumstances under which they operate.
NDLEA apprehends 14,480 suspected drug traffickers in 10 months – Marwa