The Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) says 50,901 drug offenders including 46 barons have been arrested in the past 38 months.
Mr Marwa said within the period the Agency had successfully prosecuted and convicted 9,034 of them as well as seized over 7,561 tonnes of illicit substances.
He stated this in Lagos on Monday, in his remarks at the commissioning and handing over ceremony of an operational facility built and donated to NDLEA by the British government, according to a statement by the agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi.
Mr Marwa commended the generous support that will further boost the capability of the anti-narcotic agency in tackling the menace of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria.
He said it was a significant milestone in the ongoing fight against the scourge of licit and illicit drug trafficking.
He expressed gratitude to the British government for their unwavering commitment and invaluable contributions to the war against illicit drugs.
“This building complex stands not only as a physical structure but as a symbol of the enduring partnership between our two nations in the global fight against drug trafficking,” he said.
“It represents the culmination of years of cooperation, mutual trust, and shared determination to combat one of the most pressing threats to our societies.
“The significance of this project cannot be overstated. It will serve as a vital hub for data analysis and strategic planning in our efforts to disrupt drug trafficking networks and apprehend those responsible. With state-of-the-art facilities and technology at our disposal, we are better equipped than ever before to tackle this complex and ever-evolving challenge head-on.”
