Written by
Ishioma Appiah-Yeboah
Drug barons operating within and outside Nigeria have been put on notice as the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) declared that there is “no safe haven” for traffickers, following a series of major operations that dismantled international drug syndicates, arrested high-profile kingpins and seized illicit drugs valued at more than ₦1.5 trillion.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd.), issued the warning on Friday during the grand finale of the 2026 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking in Abuja.
“To those who think they can operate with impunity, our recent spectacular operational breakthroughs send an unmistakable message: There is no safe haven here,” Marwa declared.
He said the agency has intensified intelligence-led operations across airports, seaports, land borders, forests and communities, leading to the dismantling of several sophisticated drug trafficking networks operating across multiple countries.
International Cartels Crushed
Highlighting one of the agency’s biggest successes, Marwa disclosed that the NDLEA, working closely with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and law enforcement agencies in Greece, France and Switzerland, dismantled the notorious Amadi Simon drug cartel.
According to him, the multi-country investigation led to the simultaneous arrest of alleged billionaire drug baron Amadi Simon in Switzerland alongside two suspected associates in Anambra and Delta states.
Investigators also traced more than $60 million to accounts linked to the suspect, while thousands of dollars were reportedly recovered at the time of his arrest.
Marwa described the operation as proof that the agency’s operational reach now extends beyond Nigeria’s borders.
Meth Cartel Busted, ₦480bn Worth of Chemicals Recovered
In another major breakthrough, the NDLEA said it dismantled a cross-continental methamphetamine syndicate involving a 63-year-old Nigerian drug baron, three Mexican nationals and several Nigerian collaborators.
The operation targeted a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory hidden inside a remote forest in Ogun State, while another coordinated raid was carried out at the suspect’s residence in Lagos.
The agency recovered 2,219 kilogrammes (over 2.2 tonnes) of methamphetamine and precursor chemicals with an estimated international street value of $362.9 million, equivalent to more than ₦480 billion.
Marwa said another industrial-scale meth laboratory was uncovered in Oyo State just last week, leading to the arrest of one Mexican national and four Nigerians.
Over 29,000 Arrests in 18 Months
Providing a scorecard of the agency’s recent performance, Marwa said the NDLEA arrested 29,262 suspects between 2025 and 2026, seized 5.3 million kilogrammes of assorted illicit drugs and secured 5,025 convictions within an 18-month period.
He added that the agency has arrested 234 drug barons over the past five years as part of sustained efforts to dismantle major trafficking organisations.
“These numbers represent more than statistics. They represent millions of lives saved, billions of naira in criminal wealth disrupted and the future reclaimed for our young people,” he said.
New Threats Moving Online
Marwa warned that the global drug trade has evolved beyond conventional trafficking routes, with criminal organisations increasingly exploiting technology.
According to him, drug cartels now rely on encrypted messaging platforms, social media, cryptocurrency and the dark web to distribute illicit substances and launder proceeds of crime.
He also raised concerns over the growing abuse of synthetic drugs, emerging psychoactive substances and the misuse of prescription medications, particularly among young people.
“The internet, once celebrated as a tool for connection and innovation, is increasingly being manipulated as a digital pipeline for addiction, exploitation and transnational crime,” he said.
Nearly Five Million Nigerians Reached Through Prevention Campaigns
Beyond enforcement, the NDLEA said it continues to strengthen prevention, rehabilitation and public awareness initiatives.
Marwa revealed that the agency conducted 6,645 drug abuse prevention and sensitisation programmes, reaching nearly five million Nigerians in schools, workplaces, markets, worship centres and communities.
He added that 13,508 drug users received counselling, treatment and rehabilitation across the agency’s 31 rehabilitation centres nationwide within the last 18 months.
The agency has also expanded its media campaign through its newly launched radio station, Clean Beat 91.5 FM, alongside digital advocacy platforms aimed at discouraging substance abuse.
Alternative Development for Cannabis Farmers
As part of efforts to reduce illicit cultivation, Marwa announced the implementation of Africa’s first Alternative Development Programme, designed to help cannabis farmers transition to legal agricultural ventures.
The pilot initiative, launched in Ondo State, supports farmers to cultivate crops such as cassava, maize, cocoa and cowpea instead of cannabis, with backing from international development partners.
Call for Collective Action
While acknowledging the agency’s enforcement successes, Marwa stressed that government alone cannot win the fight against drug abuse.
He called on families, schools, religious institutions, traditional rulers, civil society organisations, the private sector and the media to work together in protecting young Nigerians from substance abuse.
“We are fighting for the soul of the nation,” he said.
“As we commemorate World Drug Day 2026, let us strengthen collaboration, embrace innovation and invest more in prevention, treatment and rehabilitation to build a safer, healthier and more prosperous Nigeria.”