MARGARETH CHIDERA
LAGOS, Nigeria – The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has destroyed 329,865.585 kilogrammes of assorted illicit drugs valued at an estimated N301.058 billion in Lagos.
The court-ordered destruction exercise was conducted on Monday at Navy Town, Ojo, following orders of the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division, covering drugs linked to concluded uncontested cases and abandoned seizures.
According to the agency, 246,864.535kg of the destroyed substances were seized by the Lagos Strategic Command between April 2025 and May 2026, while another 83,001.05kg were recovered by the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Tin Can and Apapa Strategic Commands, the Marine Command and a Special Operations Unit operating in Lagos.
The destroyed consignment comprised cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, different strains of cannabis, including Canadian Loud and skunk, ephedrine, tramadol, codeine syrup, other opioids and khat leaves.
Speaking at the exercise, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), described the operation as a demonstration of Nigeria’s determination to protect its citizens and deprive criminal networks of resources to sustain their activities.
Marwa said the seizure and destruction of the drugs went beyond eliminating contraband, stressing that illicit drug trafficking threatens young people, families and communities while contributing to addiction, crime and impaired driving.
He also warned that the drug trade had wider economic and security implications, as proceeds from trafficking could finance organised crime, terrorism and violent extremism.
“Wherever you hide, whoever sponsors you and however sophisticated your network may be, the long arm of the law will reach you,” Marwa warned, vowing that the agency would continue to dismantle drug trafficking networks and their financial structures.
He urged parents, schools, religious and traditional leaders, the media and members of the public to support the NDLEA’s campaign against illicit drugs, noting that the battle could not be won by the agency alone.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, described the destruction of about 300 tonnes of narcotics and psychotropic substances as a “sobering reminder” of the threat posed by illicit drugs to communities and young Nigerians.
The governor said the exercise demonstrated the impact of cooperation among law enforcement agencies, the judiciary and governments in confronting drug abuse and trafficking.
The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi, also commended the NDLEA, saying the seizures reflected operations across Nigeria’s airports, seaports and land borders.
Adeniyi noted that drug trafficking was also connected to the financing of violent non-state actors, including bandits, kidnappers, armed robbers, insurgents and terrorists.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Abdullahi Mustapha, pledged the Navy’s continued support for the NDLEA’s anti-drug operations.
The NDLEA said the destruction was aimed at ensuring that seized illicit substances were permanently removed from circulation and could no longer fuel drug abuse, organised crime and other criminal activities.
