• Agency busts drug rings worth n480b, arrests 29,262 suspects in 18 months, secures 5,225 convictions
• Marwa warns criminal syndicates exploiting dark web, cryptocurrencies
• Pharmacists seek stronger action against substance abuse, fake drugs

President Bola Tinubu on Friday declared that Nigeria will intensify the deployment of technology, intelligence, forensic science and coordinated international partnerships to combat the evolving threat of illicit drug trafficking and substance abuse.

The President also paid glowing tribute to the leadership and personnel of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), saying their courage, professionalism and operational successes have earned Nigeria international recognition in the global fight against narcotics.

This is even as the Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) has disclosed that the agency arrested 29,262 suspected drug offenders, seized more than 5.3 million kilogrammes of illicit drugs valued at over N1.5 trillion, and secured 5,225 convictions between 2025 and the first half of 2026.

Marwa also revealed that the agency dismantled several transnational drug cartels, including syndicates involving billionaire drug traffickers, Mexican methamphetamine manufacturers and international money laundering networks, describing the operations as some of the biggest anti-drug successes in Nigeria’s history.

Meanwhile, healthcare professionals have renewed calls for stronger government intervention to combat the twin threats of substance abuse and the proliferation of substandard and falsified medicines, warning that both pose grave dangers to public health, security and national development.

Tinubu, represented by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), at the grand finale of the 2026 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in Abuja, said his administration remains committed to tackling both the supply and demand sides of the drug problem through innovative and evidence-based strategies.

Speaking on this year’s theme, ‘The World Drug Problem: Persisting Issues, New Challenges, Innovative Responses,’ the President warned that the global narcotics trade has become increasingly sophisticated, requiring governments to remain vigilant, adaptive and united.

He noted that substance abuse is no longer merely a public health issue, but a growing threat to families, education, economic productivity and national security.

“My administration remains committed to creating an environment in which young Nigerians can thrive and succeed. Through the Renewed Hope Agenda, we are expanding access to education, promoting skills development, supporting entrepreneurship, creating employment opportunities and implementing social interventions that address the underlying factors that make individuals vulnerable to substance abuse and criminal recruitment,” he said.

Tinubu stressed that prevention must be complemented by an aggressive crackdown on trafficking networks. The President said science, innovation and data analytics have become indispensable weapons against organised drug crime.

“We must strengthen our capacity to collect, analyse and apply data so that emerging trends are identified early, interventions are properly evaluated and strategic decisions are informed by facts.

“As illicit drug markets evolve, our ability to detect and identify drugs and precursor chemicals must evolve as well. Strengthening forensic laboratories, enhancing technological capabilities and supporting scientific research will remain essential if we are to stay ahead of emerging threats,” he said.

He added that the criminal justice system would continue to receive the support required to ensure that drug traffickers are effectively investigated, prosecuted and brought to justice.

Tinubu commended Marwa and officers of the NDLEA for what he described as their outstanding commitment to safeguarding the nation.

He reminded Nigerians that the drug menace is a shared global challenge that requires collective responsibility, urging governments, civil society organisations, development partners, communities and citizens to work together in building safer and healthier societies.

Delivering the keynote lecture titled, ‘Celebrating Progress and Inspiring Collective Action Against Drug Abuse,’ Prof. Oluwatoyin Odeku of the Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, said Nigeria has recorded measurable progress in the war against illicit drugs over the past five years.

“When the NDLEA was re-energised in 2021, many believed the drug war was unwinnable. Today, the evidence tells a different story. We have every reason to celebrate the progress made while remaining committed to sustaining the momentum,” she said.

Also speaking, the Country Representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Cheikh Toure, represented by Dr. Akanidomo Ibanga, praised the Federal Government’s balanced approach to drug control.

He said the leadership demonstrated by the NDLEA, the Federal Ministry of Health and other stakeholders reflects Nigeria’s growing commitment to evidence-based, human rights-centred drug control policies.

“UNODC remains firmly committed to supporting Nigeria through technical expertise, strategic partnerships and innovative solutions that respond to realities on the ground,” he said.

On his part, Marwa said this year’s global theme reflects the rapidly evolving nature of organised drug crime.

According to him, the world is no longer confronted only by conventional narcotics but by increasingly sophisticated synthetic drugs, new psychoactive substances and criminal networks exploiting encrypted communication platforms, cryptocurrencies, social media and the dark web.

“The internet, once celebrated as a tool for innovation and connectivity, is increasingly being manipulated as a digital pipeline for addiction, exploitation and transnational organised crime,” he said.

Marwa expressed concern over the growing exposure of young Nigerians to illicit drugs, attributing the trend to peer pressure, unemployment, misinformation on social media, emotional distress, weakening family support systems and the glamorisation of substance abuse.

He, however, said the agency has remained resolute through intelligence-led operations across airports, seaports, land borders, forests and communities nationwide.

Highlighting recent breakthroughs, Marwa disclosed that the NDLEA, working with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and law enforcement agencies in Greece, France and Switzerland, dismantled the notorious international drug trafficking and money laundering syndicate headed by billionaire suspect Amadi Simon.

He said coordinated operations across multiple countries culminated in the arrest of Simon in Switzerland alongside his Nigerian accomplices, Jacinta Amara Ikechi and Blessing Rosie Ahmadi.

According to him, investigations linked the syndicate to the laundering of hundreds of billions of naira generated from drug trafficking and other financial crimes.

He also announced the dismantling of a major cross-continental methamphetamine manufacturing cartel involving a 63-year-old Nigerian kingpin, Innocent Anochili, three Mexican nationals and six Nigerian collaborators.

He said the operation carried out simultaneously in Ogun and Lagos states after months of surveillance uncovered a massive clandestine methamphetamine laboratory hidden inside a remote forest in Ijebu East Local Council of Ogun State.

He further disclosed that another tactical team simultaneously raided the suspect’s luxury residence in Lekki, Lagos.

Marwa said that forensic experts recovered 2,419 kilogrammes of precursor chemicals, industrial solvents and crystallised methamphetamine valued at approximately 362 million U.S. dollars.

He further revealed that barely days after the operation, NDLEA operatives uncovered another industrial-scale methamphetamine laboratory concealed inside a forest in Ibarapa Local Council of Oyo State, where one Mexican national and four Nigerians were arrested.

Providing an overview of the agency’s achievements over the last five years, Marwa said no fewer than 234 major drug barons coordinating illicit drug trafficking operations have been apprehended.

He stressed that the statistics represent not merely operational data but “millions of lives saved, billions of naira in criminal wealth confiscated and the future reclaimed for our youths.”

Marwa also drew attention to the agency’s pioneering Alternative Development Programme, the first of its kind in Africa, aimed at providing legitimate livelihoods for illicit cannabis farmers.

The initiative, launched in January in Ondo State with support from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), the Global Partnership on Drug Policies and Development and other international partners, encourages former cannabis cultivators to switch to crops such as cassava, maize, cocoa and cowpea.

He said the programme aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and has already begun yielding positive results in the pilot communities.

While acknowledging government efforts, Marwa maintained that law enforcement alone cannot eliminate substance abuse.

He called for a whole-of-society approach involving families, schools, religious institutions, traditional rulers, civil society organisations, the media and the private sector.

“We are fighting for the soul of our nation. Let us strengthen collaboration, embrace technological innovation and invest more in prevention, treatment and social reintegration,” he said.

Marwa expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for what he described as unwavering political support for the anti-drug campaign.

He also commended NDLEA personnel, describing them as “the thin green line standing between safety and chaos.”

“I salute the courage, professionalism and sacrifices of our officers and men. Through sustained cooperation, innovation and collective resolve, Nigeria will continue to neutralise emerging drug threats and build a safer, healthier and more prosperous society,” he said.

A major highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of prizes to winners of the 2026 NDLEA National Inter-Secondary School Essay Competition, organised to promote anti-drug awareness and preventive education among young Nigerians.

Ikpeamechi Jennifer of Federal Government College, Enugu, emerged overall winner and received the star prize of N500,000.

The first runner-up prize of N300,000 went to Aliyu Kama of General Murtala Mohammed College, Yola, Adamawa State, while Chagoziem Ikechukwu of Mimshak Academy, Mbawsi, Isiala Ngwa North Local Council of Abia State, emerged second runner-up and received N200,000.

The awards reflected the NDLEA’s growing emphasis on prevention, youth engagement and behavioural change, complementing its enforcement strategy by empowering students to become ambassadors in the campaign against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking.

Speaking at the 2026 Annual General Meeting, Scientific Conference and Project Launch of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), Rivers State Chapter, held at the Justice Mary Odili Judicial Institute in Port Harcourt from June 24 to 26, healthcare experts expressed concern over the increasing rate of hard drug abuse among young people, noting that many addicts resort to robbery, cultism and other criminal activities to finance their addiction.

According to them, beyond law enforcement, government must invest in sustained public enlightenment campaigns, rehabilitation programmes and youth empowerment initiatives to address the root causes of substance abuse.

The conference, themed, ‘Combating the Epidemic of Substandard Drugs and Falsified Medication: A Call to Coalition,’ brought together pharmacists, health experts and other stakeholders to chart strategies for eliminating counterfeit medicines from Nigeria’s healthcare system.

Delivering a keynote address, South Korean pharmacist, Cho Hyun Mi, urged Nigerian pharmacists to strengthen medicine distribution systems and build public confidence in community pharmacy practice as part of efforts to eliminate fake drugs.

She stressed that pharmacists occupy a strategic position in healthcare delivery and should champion the adoption of smart medicine security systems capable of guaranteeing safe drug circulation.

According to her, quality pharmaceutical products, adherence to professional standards and trust-based relationships with communities remain critical to protecting patients from harmful medicines.

Also speaking, National Chairman of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, Ezeh Ambrose Igwekanma, described the conference theme as timely, saying the menace of substandard and falsified medicines requires collective action from manufacturers, regulators, distributors, healthcare providers and consumers.

He identified the proliferation of open drug markets across the country as one of the major factors sustaining the circulation of fake medicines.

Igwekanma called on the Federal Government to establish coordinated wholesale drug centres where pharmaceutical manufacturers can distribute products under regulated conditions before retailers purchase them.

He also urged regulatory agencies to strengthen surveillance, improve product tracking mechanisms and intensify enforcement against counterfeit drug syndicates.

The Chairman of ACPN, Rivers State Council, Chief Nengi Lawson, described substandard medicines as a growing public health emergency that demands collaboration across all sectors.

He disclosed that the association plans to introduce mechanisms that would enable members of the public to easily identify licensed pharmacies and distinguish them from illegal drug outlets.

Lawson said the initiative would be accompanied by sustained public enlightenment campaigns to educate Nigerians on how to patronise only registered pharmacies and avoid counterfeit medicines.

According to him, safeguarding the nation’s health requires the support of government, professional bodies, security agencies and the general public.

Earlier in his welcome address, Chairman of the Conference Planning Committee, Pharm. Okeke Uchechukwu, described fake and substandard medicines as a major public health crisis responsible for treatment failures, avoidable deaths and the growing challenge of antimicrobial resistance.

He warned that every counterfeit antibiotic or fake anti-malarial drug represents a direct threat to patient safety, stressing that defeating the menace would require collaboration rather than isolated efforts.