President Bola Tinubu on Thursday commended the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for dismantling a transnational drug-production network he said involved Nigerian and Mexican operatives and the seizure of chemicals and illicit substances worth in excess of $360 million.
Brigadier General Mohammed Buba Marwa (retd.), chairman of the NDLEA, disclosed the outcome Wednesday after an operation built on weeks of intelligence gathering and coordination with international partners.
The agency said the crackdown resulted in arrests of foreign nationals, local kingpins and collaborators linked to what officials described as a sophisticated, multi-million-dollar illegal drug-production scheme.
Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President Bayo Onanuga in a statement quoted Tinubu as saying “This successful operation, which led to the arrest of foreign nationals, local kingpins and other collaborators, as well as the seizure of chemicals and illicit drugs valued at over $360 million, demonstrates exceptional professionalism, courage, and unwavering commitment to safeguarding society from the devastating effects of narcotics.”
He said President Tinubu praised the “bravery, resilience, and dedication” of NDLEA operatives and urged them to sustain pressure on trafficking networks.
He warned against complacency as West Africa increasingly figures in global smuggling routes for cocaine, synthetic drugs and unregulated pharmaceuticals bound for Europe and North America.
“Drugs not only pose a critical security threat for our region, but they also pose a grave danger to the future of our youth,” the statement said, calling on citizens to assist security agencies by reporting suspicious activity.
President Tinubu described the NDLEA’s operation as evidence that Nigerian authorities will not tolerate organized crime.
“This landmark success is a strong message that our security agencies will not tolerate organised crime and criminality anywhere in the country, and that those who threaten public safety and national security will face the wrath of the law,” the presidency added.
NewsQuest reports that the announcement follows a period of heightened international cooperation as law-enforcement agencies across West Africa—faced with rising volumes of trafficked narcotics—seek to disrupt increasingly sophisticated cross-border operations.
The NDLEA said the probe involved weeks of careful planning and coordination with foreign partners but provided few operational details in the initial brief.
