The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested 38,242 suspects and secured 6,232 convictions for drug-related offences in 21 months, as Nigeria intensifies efforts to dismantle trafficking networks and tackle substance abuse.
The agency also seized more than 5.8 million kilogrammes of illicit drugs valued at over ₦2.5tn between January 2025 and September 2026.
The figures were presented on Monday at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where Nigeria outlined its drug control strategy.
The statement was delivered by the NDLEA secretary, Shadrach Haruna, on behalf of the agency’s chairman, Brig Gen Mohammed Buba Marwa (retd.), under the session’s theme, “Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations that Delivers for All”.
Marwa said the agency had expanded beyond conventional drug enforcement to adopt an intelligence-led approach that combines law enforcement, public health interventions, financial investigations, technology and international cooperation.
He attributed the shift to the growing sophistication of trafficking networks, the use of technology for illicit activities and the movement of criminal proceeds across national borders.
“Drug dependence continues to affect individuals, families and communities. Nigeria therefore broadened its focus from drugs and offenders alone to the criminal networks, illicit profits and vulnerabilities that sustain the drug economy,” he said.
Beyond arrests and seizures, the agency said more than 16,303 people received counselling, treatment or rehabilitation during the reporting period, while prevention and sensitisation campaigns reached millions of Nigerians.
Marwa said the NDLEA was placing greater emphasis on dismantling major trafficking networks and their financial structures rather than relying solely on the number of suspects arrested or drugs confiscated.
He also highlighted an Alternative Development initiative being piloted in three communities in Ondo State to encourage residents to abandon illicit cannabis cultivation in favour of legitimate agricultural activities.
The programme is intended to provide sustainable livelihoods while improving food security and strengthening community resilience.
Marwa cited the agency’s Drug Integrity Test and Visa E-Administration System as examples of digital initiatives designed to improve access, efficiency and transparency in public services.
The measures are being incorporated into the National Drug Control Master Plan 2026–2030, which covers drug supply and demand reduction, access to controlled medicines, governance and coordination, alternative development, and disruption of the illicit drug economy.
At the UN session, Nigeria called for stronger intelligence-sharing among countries and more concerted action against illicit financial flows through investigations and asset recovery.
It also urged greater access to drug prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and reintegration services, alongside support for alternative livelihoods in communities affected by illicit cultivation.
Nigeria further called for increased investment in developing countries’ drug-control institutions, including funding for technology, training, forensic capabilities and treatment facilities.
Marwa described the country’s reforms as an ongoing process, saying Nigeria was willing to share its experience, learn from other countries and work with international partners to achieve measurable results.
Discussion0