The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has recorded 77,792 arrests, including 128 drug barons, secured 14,225 convictions and seized more than 14.8 million kilogrammes of illicit substances over the past five years.

The agency also declared that the era of Nigeria serving as a safe haven for criminal drug enterprises is over.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), disclosed this while commending officers of the agency at the 11th Chairman/Chief Executive Officer Awards and Commendation ceremony held at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja. He charged personnel to brace for more tactically sophisticated operations against drug cartels, barons and their couriers in the next five years of his second tenure.

“When I first resumed in 2021, I promised to take the fight to the doorsteps of the merchants of death. Today, the numbers speak for themselves,” Marwa said. “Through our collective resilience, we have sent a clear message that Nigeria is no longer a safe haven for illicit drug enterprise.”

He said the agency’s efforts over the last five years had significantly disrupted both local and transnational drug supply chains. According to him, the NDLEA strengthened the criminal justice response to drug offences by successfully prosecuting offenders and securing 14,225 convictions, reinforcing deterrence and demonstrating that drug crimes attract consequences.

Marwa added that the agency also prioritised drug demand reduction alongside enforcement.

He said 32,442 drug users benefited from structured treatment, counselling and rehabilitation programmes, while 13,735 War Against Drug Abuse sensitisation activities were carried out nationwide across schools, motor parks, workplaces, worship centres and communities.

The NDLEA boss expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for his support and the confidence reposed in the agency’s leadership, describing the extension of the current leadership’s mandate as a call to intensify the fight against drug abuse and trafficking.

“Mr President’s decision to extend our mandate is a call to more work,” Marwa said. “We assure him, and indeed all Nigerians, that the successes of the past five years are merely a foundation.”

Addressing officers, he said the next phase of operations would require greater grit, intelligence-led actions and tactical sophistication, stressing that there would be no room for complacency. “We will not rest until every drug baron is behind bars and every gram of illicit drugs is removed from our streets,” he said.

The 11th CCEO awards honoured personnel who demonstrated exceptional courage and integrity in the line of duty. Marwa urged award recipients to see the recognition as a reminder that their efforts were valued, while encouraging other officers to draw inspiration from their achievements.

He also acknowledged the role of international partners, sister agencies, civil society and the media, calling for deeper strategic collaboration to safeguard the future of Nigerian children.