NDLEA Shatters Drug Networks with Destruction of 1.6 Million Kilograms in Historic Seizure

 The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) marked a monumental victory in Nigeria’s war on drugs by destroying 1.6 million kilograms of illicit substances—the largest seizure in its 35-year history—on April 11, 2025, at a secure facility in Badagry, Lagos.

Valued at ₦1.2 trillion, the haul comprised 70% cannabis, 20% codeine syrup, and 10% methamphetamine, intercepted over six months from Lagos ports, Seme border, and northern hideouts. NDLEA Chairman Buba Marwa, a retired brigadier general, oversaw the incineration, declaring it a “devastating blow to cartels fueling addiction and violence.” He linked the drugs to a 2024 surge in kidnappings, with 3,000 cases tied to substance-driven gangs.

The operation, codenamed “Clean Sweep,” involved collaboration with Interpol and the UK’s National Crime Agency, uncovering syndicates spanning Nigeria, Benin, and Europe. Marwa announced 47 arrests, including two kingpins awaiting trial, and credited community informants for 60% of leads.

Nigeria’s drug abuse crisis, affecting 14.4% of adults per a 2024 UNODC report, gave the seizure added weight, as codeine misuse alone fuels 1.2 million hospitalisations yearly. The destruction, livestreamed to counter tampering claims, saw drones monitor the site, a nod to past controversies over “missing” seizures.

However, activists like the Harm Reduction Network urged more rehab centers, noting only 28 facilities serve Nigeria’s 200 million people. Marwa pledged to sustain raids, targeting 50,000 tons annually, but faces challenges from porous borders and corrupt officials, with a 2023 ICPC report flagging 15% of seizures una