The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has destroyed 329,865.585 kilogrammes of assorted illicit drugs valued at an estimated N301.058 billion in Lagos State.
The destruction exercise was carried out on Monday at Navy Town, Ojo, following an order from the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division.
The agency said the substances comprised narcotics recovered from concluded uncontested cases and abandoned seizures made by various NDLEA commands across Lagos.
NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said the Lagos Strategic Command seized 246,864.535kg of the drugs between April 2025 and May 2026.
Another 83,001.05kg was recovered by the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Tincan and Apapa Strategic Commands, Marine Command and a Special Operations Unit operating in the state.
The destroyed substances included cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, cannabis varieties such as Canadian Loud and skunk, ephedrine, tramadol, codeine syrup, other opioids and khat leaves.
Speaking during the exercise, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), said the destruction demonstrated Nigeria’s determination to prevent illicit drugs from returning to circulation and fuelling criminal activities.
Marwa said the fight against drug trafficking went beyond addressing drug abuse, noting that the illicit drug trade also had serious economic and security consequences.
He said drug trafficking could weaken the workforce, increase pressure on healthcare facilities, discourage investment and divert public resources that could otherwise be used for education, healthcare and infrastructure.
The NDLEA chairman commended President Bola Tinubu for supporting the agency’s mandate and acknowledged the contributions of the judiciary, Lagos State Government, military, security agencies, international partners, civil society groups, traditional institutions, the media and members of the public.
He also praised NDLEA personnel for their efforts in disrupting drug trafficking networks across the country, particularly in Lagos.
Marwa warned drug barons, traffickers, financiers, distributors and dealers that the agency would intensify its operations against them.
“Wherever you hide, whoever sponsors you and however sophisticated your network may be, the long arm of the law will reach you,” he said.
He urged parents, schools, religious and traditional leaders and media organisations to support the fight against drug abuse and trafficking, stressing that the responsibility could not be left to the NDLEA alone.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said the volume of narcotics destroyed exposed the scale of the drug challenge facing the country.
Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, described the exercise as a warning about the dangers posed by illicit drugs and evidence of what could be achieved through cooperation among law enforcement agencies, the judiciary and government.
He reaffirmed Lagos State’s commitment to tackling drug abuse and trafficking across the state.
The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, also commended the NDLEA for its sustained operations against drug trafficking.
Adeniyi said the seizures reflected enforcement operations at Nigeria’s seaports, airports and land borders, warning traffickers that the country was becoming increasingly hostile to their activities.
He linked proceeds from illicit drug trafficking to the financing of violent criminal groups, including bandits, kidnappers, armed robbers, insurgents and terrorists.
According to him, disrupting the drug trade would not only cause financial losses for traffickers but also reduce the resources available to criminal networks.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Abdullahi Mustapha, reaffirmed the Nigerian Navy’s continued support for the NDLEA’s drug-control operations.