How NDLEA Partnership With Saudi Arabia Led To Massive Crackdown On Illicit Drugs—Marwa
…Says Over 10 million KG Of Drugs Seized, 10,572 Offenders Convicted
Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, on Monday said the joint enforcement efforts and international collaboration, particularly with Saudi Arabia, have facilitated the seizure of over 10 million kilograms of illicit drugs between 2021 and 2024.
Marwa said the seizures facilitated the arrest of 57,792 suspects.
Marwa said the arrest/seizure was facilitated through intelligence sharing and joint enforcement efforts.
Marwa disclosed this during the signing of a partnership agreement between the NDLEA and the General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The NDLEA boss emphasized the success of a long-standing cooperation between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia “Over the past 18 years, Nigerian airports have recorded multiple drug-related arrests on outbound flights to Saudi Arabia.
“At Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), and Murtala Muhammed International (MMIA), a total of 44 suspects were apprehended across 35 cases involving departing flights.
“Between November 12, 2007, and January 15, 2025, these operations led to the seizure of 37.6kg of cocaine, along with other prohibited substances.”
He added that Saudi intelligence has played a critical role in Nigerian drug enforcement operations.
“Saudi authorities have also provided intelligence leading to significant seizures, including the interception of 74.12kg of Captagon opioids at Apapa Port, Lagos, in September 2021.
“The shipment, originating from Syria, was under surveillance for five months before NDLEA seized it, marking the first known Captagon bust in Africa,” he said.
In a more recent collaboration, Marwa noted the progress made through joint investigations involving Nigerians arrested abroad for drug trafficking.
“In August 2023, after the arrest of Zulaihat Adam, Binta Nasidi, and Rashidat Abdullahi in Jeddah, the NDLEA swiftly traced and detained their accomplices in Nigeria.
“This also led to us dismantling the network that facilitated the operation,” he said in a statement by the NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, in Abuja.
Speaking on NDLEA’s overall achievements from 2021 to 2024, Marwa said the agency’s operations have been significantly strengthened by intelligence-sharing and coordinated enforcement with international partners.
“In the last four years, we have made over 57,792 arrests, including 65 drug barons, leading to the seizure of more than 10 million kilograms of assorted illicit drugs.
“We have also recorded the conviction of over 10,572 offenders, while a total of 22,047 drug users have been treated and rehabilitated across our 33 treatment centres during the same period,” Marwa said.
How NDLEA Partnership With Saudi Arabia Led To Massive Crackdown On Illicit Drugs—Marwa is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
