The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has publicly destroyed 329,865.585 kilogrammes of assorted illicit drugs valued at an estimated N301 billion in Lagos.
The exercise was carried out pursuant to orders of the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division, which disposed of uncontested concluded cases and abandoned seizures.
The NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, saying the destroyed substances were seized by various commands of the agency operating in Lagos.
He said 246,864.535 kilogrammes of the drugs were seized by the Lagos Strategic Command between April 2025 and May 2026, while 83,001.05 kilogrammes were recovered by the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Tincan and Apapa Strategic Commands, as well as the Marine Command and a Special Operations Unit.
According to Babafemi, the destroyed substances comprised mainly cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, various strains of cannabis, including Canadian Loud and skunk, ephedrine, tramadol, codeine syrup and other opioids, as well as khat leaves.
Speaking at the exercise held at Navy Town, Ojo, Lagos, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd.), described the destruction as a bold demonstration of Nigeria’s resolve to protect its citizens and deny criminal enterprises the resources they need to thrive.
He said behind every kilogramme of narcotics destroyed was a potential story of a young life at risk, a family affected by addiction or a community exposed to drug-related crime and impaired driving.
Marwa said the destroyed consignments represented more than the elimination of contraband, noting that illicit drugs weaken the workforce, increase healthcare costs, discourage investment and drain public resources that should be channeled into education, healthcare and infrastructure.
He added that every consignment intercepted by the agency saved the country billions of naira in potential losses associated with addiction, crime and social dislocation.
The NDLEA chairman also linked illicit drug trafficking to broader security challenges, saying the trade helps to fund organised crime, terrorism and violent extremism globally.
He said the seizure and destruction of illicit drugs therefore contributed to strengthening Nigeria’s national security architecture.
Marwa commended the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his administration for the agency’s mandate, as well as the collaboration of the judiciary, Lagos State Government, military, sister security agencies, international partners, civil society organisations, traditional institutions, the media and members of the public.
He also commended NDLEA personnel across the country, particularly those serving in Lagos, for the risks and sacrifices they make in the discharge of their duties.
Issuing a warning to drug barons, traffickers, financiers, distributors and dealers, Marwa said the agency would continue to pursue and dismantle their networks.
‘Wherever you hide, whoever sponsors you and however sophisticated your network may be, the long arm of the law will reach you,’ he said.
Marwa called on Nigerians, including parents, schools, religious and traditional leaders and the media, to become active stakeholders in the fight against illicit drugs, stressing that the battle could not be won by the NDLEA alone.
Meanwhile, the Edo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has destroyed two cannabis farms with an estimated yield of 4,628.9775 kilogrammes in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of the state.
The command also arrested 10 suspected drug traffickers in separate operations across the state.
The State Commander of the NDLEA, Mitchell Ofoyeju, disclosed this in Benin on Monday, saying the cannabis plantations were discovered at Ugboku, Igbanke Forest, in Orhionmwon Local Government Area, following credible intelligence.
He said the two farms covered a combined area of 1.851591 hectares and had an estimated yield of 4,628.9775 kilogrammes of cannabis.
According to him, one suspect, Agholor Elebojie, 40, was arrested in connection with the first farm, which measured 0.699792 hectares and had an estimated yield of 1,749.26 kilogrammes.
Ofoyeju said the second farm measured 1.151889 hectares and had an estimated yield of 2,879.7225 kilogrammes.
He added that two bags of processed cannabis sativa weighing 12.4 kilogrammes were recovered from the second farm.
The commander said the agency also arrested nine other suspected drug traffickers at Abuja Quarters in Benin City during a raid on suspected criminal hideouts.
He said the suspects were apprehended in separate operations across the Benin metropolis as part of the command’s ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking and illicit drug activities in the state.