Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Mohammed Marwa, during the inauguration of the NDLEA Marine Command Headquarters in Lagos, announced that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has seized approximately 750 tons of illicit drugs over the past three years.
Marwa stated, “We upgraded the Marine Unit to a full-fledged command in 2022, and since then, our balance sheet of arrests and drug seizures within the maritime space has shown an upward trend.”
The agency’s partnership with other maritime law enforcement agencies has led to the capture of 41 suspects, with 15 already prosecuted and jailed.
The NDLEA has seized various illicit drugs through port operations, including cocaine, codeine, tramadol, methamphetamine, and Loud. Marwa highlighted the increasing complexity of maritime drug trafficking, noting that traffickers now utilize personal vessels such as luxury yachts, modified pump boats, and fishing trawlers to smuggle narcotics.
He emphasized the need for continuous collaboration among security agencies to combat this growing threat, which poses links to organized crime, terrorism, and human trafficking. British Deputy High Commissioner Jonny Baxter expressed the UK’s support for the NDLEA’s efforts.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Abimbola Salu-Hundeyin, praised the agency’s role in protecting citizens and enhancing security. T
he NDLEA also cited data from the United Nations, which shows that West Africa remains a major transit region for narcotics, with drug traffickers frequently exploiting maritime routes.
