Findings by Shipping Position Daily have revealed that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) intercepted a staggering 1,883,914.114 kilograms of various hard drugs at Nigeria’s seaports in 2024, It also arrested 55 suspects in connection with the seizures.
This was disclosed by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Mr. Femi Babafemi, in an exclusive chat with our correspondent in response to inquiries about the agency’s performance at the nation’s seaports last year.
Babafemi, while providing the figures, emphasized the agency’s commitment to tackling drug trafficking and abuse across the country. “The NDLEA remains resolute in its mission to rid Nigeria of illicit drugs, and our operations at the seaports are a critical part of this effort,” he said, even ads he added that “the seizures and arrests made in 2024 are a testament to the dedication of our officers and the effectiveness of our strategies.”
While Babafemi did not provide a detailed breakdown of the types of drugs seized, checks by our correspondent however revealed that the NDLEA’s operations at the seaports targeted a wide range of illicit substances, including cannabis sativa, cocaine, heroin, tramadol, and codeine syrup. These seizures were part of the agency’s broader efforts to combat trans-national drug cartels and secure Nigeria’s borders from the influx of illegal narcotics.
In May 2024, the NDLEA, in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service seized a large consignment of cocaine concealed in shipping containers at Apapa port.
By July, the agency intercepted over 32 million tramadol pills at the Lekki Deep Seaport, as well as 1.4 million bottles of codeine syrup that were seized at the Apapa and Port Harcourt ports respectively. These consignments, with a combined monetary value of N22.7 billion, were part of a fresh wave of interdiction operations targeting drug cartels operating through Nigeria’s seaports.
In October, the agency intercepted 2,120 kilograms of Ghanaian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, at the Ilasan beach in Lagos. This operation also led to the arrest of one suspect and the impounding of four vehicles intended for transporting the drugs.
The NDLEA’s efforts at the seaports were complemented by its operations at airports and land borders, where the agency recorded a total of 14,480 arrests and seized 2.4 million kilograms of illicit drugs nationwide in 2024. The agency also secured 2,867 convictions, including life imprisonment sentences for notorious drug traffickers, and destroyed 547,378 kilograms of cannabis plantations.
Despite these achievements, stakeholders have called for stricter sanctions and improved funding for the NDLEA to enhance its capacity to combat drug trafficking.
Dr. Muda Yusuf, Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprises, emphasized the need for deterrent measures to discourage individuals from engaging in drug-related crimes.
“The scale of drug trafficking in Nigeria is alarming, and while the NDLEA has made commendable efforts, there is an urgent need for stricter sanctions and more robust enforcement mechanisms,” Yusuf stated.
He further noted that “the economic and social consequences of drug abuse are devastating, and we must adopt a multi-faceted approach that includes prevention, rehabilitation, and stricter penalties for offenders. The government must also increase funding for the NDLEA to ensure they have the resources needed to combat this growing menace effectively.”
Meanwhile the NDLEA’s Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), had recently commended the agency’s personnel for their dedication and urged lawmakers to continue supporting the agency’s efforts. “We are on track to surpass our achievements of the past three years,” Marwa stated, adding that the agency’s balanced approach to drug supply reduction and demand reduction has yielded significant results.
