The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has destroyed an unprecedented 1.6m kilograms of various illicit substances, marking the largest drug seizure destruction in the agency’s history.
The drugs, confiscated across Lagos, Ogun, and Oyo states, were set alight in a ceremony attended by government officials, traditional rulers, religious leaders, security agencies, international partners, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and community representatives.
According to a statement from the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the destruction took place yesterday at an isolated site in Ipara, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Ogun State.
The drugs destroyed included 123 kilograms of cocaine, 46.8 kilograms of heroin, 1.4 million kilograms of cannabis, 148,000 kilograms of codeine syrup, 3,244.26 kilograms of tramadol, 1,544 kilograms of skuchies, and 111 kilograms of methamphetamine, among others.
At the event, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier General Mohamed Marwa (Rtd) stressed the agency’s unwavering commitment to combating drug trafficking in Nigeria.
He remarked, “The volume of seizures, totalling approximately 1.6 million kilograms, highlights the serious threat these substances pose to public health, which only subsides when they are entirely and irreversibly destroyed. The NDLEA’s mandate is clear: to reduce these narcotics to rubble.”
He further warned drug traffickers that there would be no haven for them in Nigeria, saying, “The administration of President Bola Tinubu remains resolute in its efforts to combat this issue. We have successfully prosecuted and convicted 10,572 offenders in the last four years, all now serving various jail sentences.”
Marwa also acknowledged the support of the governors of Lagos, Ogun, and Oyo states, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Dapo Abiodun, and Seyi Makinde for their continued assistance with the agency’s operations.
The destruction process was carried out under strict transparency and accountability, with random laboratory tests confirming the authenticity of the seized substances.
Marwa explained, “This is not merely symbolic. It is a forensic operation grounded in evidence. The drugs are destroyed only after successful prosecution and the closure of related cases.”
He highlighted the significance of the event, noting it as a milestone in the history of the NDLEA. “This represents the public destruction of the largest haul of seized narcotics from various NDLEA commands, including those from Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, MMIA, Lagos Seaports, Idiroko Border Command, and Seme Border Command.”
Marwa also expressed gratitude to international partners, such as the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the UK Border Force, and the French and German police forces, as well as local collaborators, including First Bank of Nigeria and Fidelity Bank.
In his remarks, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, represented by his Special Adviser on Security, AIG Olusola Subair (Rtd), commended the NDLEA’s leadership and personnel for their dedication and professionalism in intercepting drugs before they reach communities.
Governor Abiodun also stressed the importance of prevention, education, and support systems for those battling addiction, recognising the drug issue as a significant social, economic, and public health crisis.
