In what has been described as the largest single destruction of narcotics in its history, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has set ablaze approximately 1.6 million kilograms of assorted illicit substances seized across Lagos, Ogun, and Oyo states. The operation, conducted on Saturday, April 12, 2025, took place at an isolated site in Ipara, along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, Ogun State.
According to a statement by the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the incineration was witnessed by an array of stakeholders including government officials, traditional rulers, clergymen, security agencies, NGOs, international partners, and community leaders—reflecting the agency’s commitment to transparency and accountability. Among the substances destroyed were 123 kilograms of cocaine, 46.8 kilograms of heroin, 1.4 million kilograms of cannabis, 148,000 kilograms of codeine syrup, 3,244 kilograms of tramadol, 1,544 kilograms of skuchies, and 111 kilograms of methamphetamine.
Chairman/CEO of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), in a message delivered by the Agency’s Director of Assets and Financial Investigation, Dr. Ibrahim Abdul, said the exercise reinforces the agency’s unwavering resolve to rid Nigeria of the drug menace. “The sheer volume of seizures, which totals approximately 1.6 million kilograms, serves as a reminder of the grave danger these substances pose to public health until they are completely and irreversibly destroyed,” he stated.
Marwa emphasized that the destroyed substances were authenticated through forensic testing and approved for destruction by the courts following successful prosecutions. He warned drug traffickers that “times have changed” and assured that the current administration under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains committed to giving NDLEA the political will to fight drug-related crime. He noted that in the past four years, the agency has secured 10,572 convictions.
He also acknowledged the critical support from the governors of Lagos, Ogun, and Oyo states—Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Dapo Abiodun, and Seyi Makinde—as well as from the international community, including agencies from the US, UK, France, and Germany, who continue to collaborate with the NDLEA in intelligence, capacity building, and operational support. Financial institutions like First Bank, Fidelity Bank, and Sterling Bank, alongside local law enforcement agencies, were also praised for their contributions.
Speaking at the event, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, represented by Special Adviser on Security AIG Olusola Subair (Rtd), lauded NDLEA for its professionalism and commitment to public safety. “Their work in saving lives, in strengthening communities and upholding the rule of law is well appreciated,” he said, calling for deeper investments in drug prevention, rehabilitation, and youth empowerment as long-term solutions to Nigeria’s drug crisis.
The event not only marked a significant milestone for the NDLEA but also underscored the scale of the drug problem Nigeria continues to grapple with—and the need for sustained, multi-stakeholder action.
