The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) destroyed 329,865.585 kilogrammes of assorted illicit drugs and psychotropic substances with an estimated street value of N301.06 billion in Lagos on Monday, August 17. The exercise took place at Navy Town in the Ojo area following orders from the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division, and covered drugs linked to uncontested concluded cases and abandoned seizures.
Senior government and security officials attended the ceremony. Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin. Other attendees included Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi and the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Abdullahi Mustapha.
The bulk of the destroyed drugs came from seizures by the NDLEA Lagos Strategic Command. According to the agency, 246,864.535 kilogrammes were seized by that command between April 2025 and May 2026. Another 83,001.05 kilogrammes came from operations by the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Tincan and Apapa Strategic Commands, the Marine Command and a Special Operations Unit, all operating within Lagos.
The consignment consisted mainly of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and various strains of cannabis, including Canadian Loud and skunk. It also included ephedrine, tramadol, codeine syrup, other opioids and khat leaf.
Speaking at the event, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd.), described the destruction as a demonstration of Nigeria’s determination to disrupt criminal networks involved in the illicit drug Trade. He said the seizure and destruction went beyond removing contraband from circulation, arguing that drug trafficking contributes to addiction, crime, Healthcare costs and wider economic losses. Marwa also linked the illicit drug trade to organised crime, terrorism and violent extremism.
Warning drug barons, traffickers, financiers, distributors and dealers, Marwa said: “Wherever you hide, whoever sponsors you and however sophisticated your network may be, the long arm of the law will reach you.” He called on parents, schools, religious and traditional leaders, the media and other Nigerians to take an active role in combating illicit drug abuse and trafficking.
Sanwo-Olu, represented by Salu-Hundeyin, described the scale of the destruction — about 300 tonnes of narcotics and psychotropic substances — as a sobering reminder of the threat posed by illicit drugs to communities and young people. Adeniyi said the scale was not the only significant aspect, pointing to the drugs’ origins in operations across seaports, airports and land borders. The Customs chief said the operation sends a strong message to drug dealers that they are no longer welcome in Nigeria. He also linked proceeds from the drug trade to violent non-state actors, including bandits, kidnappers, armed robbers, insurgents and terrorists.
The latest destruction comes amid a series of major drug seizures by the NDLEA in Lagos. In another operation in May, operatives uncovered 2,326 kilogrammes of Loud cannabis valued at more than N5.8 billion. The agency has also continued large-scale destruction exercises in other parts of the country. In June, it destroyed 73,463.21 kilogrammes of illicit drugs and psychotropic substances valued at N2.8 billion in Edo State.
Other recent operations include the destruction of an eight-hectare cannabis plantation in Cross River State and a 30-hectare cannabis farm in the same state in June 2025. In April 2024, the agency destroyed 304,436 kilogrammes and 40,042 litres of narcotics. The 329,865.585 kilogrammes destroyed in Monday’s Lagos exercise is substantially larger than the 73,463.21-kilogramme consignment destroyed in Edo in June, underscoring the scale of the latest operation.
