.Intercepted Drug Stockpiles Worth ₦1tn
Kaduna: Nigeria’s anti-drug drive has hit a historic milestone as the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), in a staggering display of enforcement, seized over 1.3 billion pills of tramadol and 4.4 million bottles of codeine within 18 months, from January 2024 to June 2025.
The announcement, made by NDLEA Chairman Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd.), during a citizens’ engagement session in Kaduna, underscores the scale of Nigeria’s drug challenge and the government’s intensified crackdown on illicit substances.
Backed by President Bola Tinubu’s administration, NDLEA’s operations have intercepted drug stockpiles valued at nearly ₦1 trillion, signalling a decisive move to safeguard communities from the grip of addiction and the threats posed by narco-financed terrorism.
Marwa disclosed during a plenary session at the two-day interactive Session on Government-citizens’ Engagement on Tuesday in Kaduna.
He credited the remarkable achievements to the support given to the agency by President Bola Tinubu.
Between January 2024 and June 2025, we have seized over 4.4 million bottles of codeine. We also seized 1.3 billion tablets of opium, known as tramadol. A pill of Tramadol is now N1000. The street value of one billion pills can be close to one trillion naira.
“Imagine the kind of weapons terrorists or bandits can buy with that amount of money, or imagine one billion pills of tramadol in circulation, “he stated.
According to Marwa, since Tinubu came into office in 2023, the agency has made seizures of 5,555 tons of illicit drugs, equivalent to 200 trailers.
He said, “Imagine 200 trailers of illegal substances on our streets. Also, we arrested 2000 drug traffickers, convicted 8,682 and rehabilitated over 24,000.
“We also go on advocacy to motor parks, schools, churches, mosques, markets, etc, to raise awareness about the dangers of drugs and substance abuse. All these were possible with support from Tinubu.”
On counselling and rehabilitation, the NDLEA boss explained that Tinubu had approved the building of seven rehabilitation centres for the agency.
He added that the agency had 30 such centres in existence, but with the current addition of seven, it now has a total of 37 rehabilitation centres.
Marwa said, “This means every state in the country will have one. Also, the President has approved one modern rehabilitation centre for each of the country’s geopolitical zones. And we hope to start this year.’
He said that the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President was entirely on track and would also help to address the issues of drug and substance abuse.
“This is because it is packed with programmes and policies that will address idleness, poverty and unemployment.
“We also want to commend the governments of Kwara and Kaduna for their proactive and pragmatic efforts in addressing drug and substance abuse in their states. We want other states to follow suit.
“Also, families should not wait for Tinubu to solve all the problems of drug abuse and NDLEA, hold your societies, and it starts with parenting, and from the family.
“We want drug and substance abuse to be included in the curriculum of primary schools in the country. Communities, traditional rulers, Churches and Mosques should get involved in the fight against drug abuse,” Marwa submitted.
