The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has cautioned nightclub operators and fun seekers across the country against the rising trend of organising or attending drug parties, describing the practice as a criminal act under Nigerian law.

The warning follows a weekend raid conducted by NDLEA operatives at Proxy Night Club, located at 7 Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, where a drug-themed event was allegedly held. The operation, which took place from the night of Saturday, 25 October, into the early hours of Sunday, 26 October 2025, led to the arrest of over 100 attendees, along with the club owner, Mike Eze Nwalie Nwogu, popularly known as Pretty Mike, and the club’s manager, Joachin Millary.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the agency described such gatherings as criminal enterprises designed for the consumption, distribution, or abuse of illicit substances.

“Any gathering organised for the purpose of consuming, distributing, or abusing illicit substances is an act of criminality,” the statement said.

“These ‘drug parties’ contravene the explicit provisions of the NDLEA Act and will be treated as serious narcotic offences. In the case of the drug party at Proxy Night Club, organisers went above board and had the audacity to produce and circulate flyers inviting fun seekers to come together to commit crime, an act that not only constitutes an incitement to commit crime but equally an affront to the law enforcement capabilities of the country if condoned.”

The agency noted that the prevalence of drug abuse in Nigeria, particularly among young people, remains a major public health concern. It said such events serve as recruitment grounds for new users and undermine national efforts to curb addiction and safeguard the country’s security.

“Nigeria is currently grappling with a very high prevalence rate of drug abuse, particularly among our youths,” the statement continued. “These illicit drug parties do not only fuel the drug scourge but equally serve as hubs for new recruitment into drug addiction and actively undermine our current national efforts to safeguard public health and security.”

Providing details of the operation, the NDLEA said it acted on intelligence reports and carried out surveillance before storming the venue.

“Following intelligence on the party, our undercover agents conducted surveillance on the facility, made pre-purchases of illicit drugs from within the club and for four hours between 11 p.m. on Saturday and 3 a.m. on Sunday during the party, our operatives observed and recorded drug transactions and abuse going on before we eventually disrupted the brazen public display of illegality and made arrests.”

The agency confirmed the seizure of 384.886 kilogrammes of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, along with other illicit substances found in the club’s store. It added that while most attendees were profiled, counselled, and released shortly after, the two principal suspects—Pretty Mike and Millary—remain in custody pending further investigation and prosecution.

“All attendees initially arrested were later profiled, addressed, counselled and released within hours in custody, in line with best global practices while the two principal suspects: Pretty Mike and his manager, Joachin Millary remain in custody following the seizure of 384.882 kilograms of Canadian Loud, a strong strain of cannabis and other substances from the club’s store,” the agency said.

NDLEA warned that property owners who knowingly permit their premises to be used for drug-related activities risk having them confiscated and forfeited to the Federal Government.

“While the Agency will intensify surveillance and apply the full force of the law against perpetrators, owners of properties, hotels, and event centres found to be knowingly hosting such illegal activities risk the confiscation and forfeiture of their assets to the Federal Government. Those held in custody in the ongoing case will face prosecution while we will file for forfeiture of the property, Proxy Night Club, in which the drugs were found.”

The agency urged citizens, parents, community and religious leaders to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities. “We call on all patriotic Nigerians, parents, religious and community leaders, as well as concerned citizens to be vigilant, report such activities, and partner with the NDLEA in combating this threat to national well-being,” it added.