By SUMAILA OGBAJE

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has arrested 3,705 suspects and seized 53,980.27 kilogrammes of illicit drugs between July 1 and Aug. 21, 2026.

Mr Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, stated this at the Joint Security News Briefing by security and law enforcement agencies, on Tuesday in Abuja.

Babafemi was represented by the Acting Assistant Director, Media and Advocacy Francis Okogun.

He said that the agency also secured 471 convictions from 574 cases prosecuted, while 990 drug users received counselling, treatment and rehabilitation during the period.

The agency, he said, conducted 2,298 targeted operations, dismantled 90 major criminal gangs and destroyed more than 1,200 drug joints nationwide.

Babafemi said that the operations led to the recovery of N8 million; £2,800, €7,750, four firearms and 403 rounds of military-grade ammunition.

He said that the agency also secured court orders freezing bank accounts worth N9.8 billion linked to cartel operations.

The spokesman highlighted that the secured interim and final forfeitures of luxury assets, including buildings, commercial properties, filling stations and high-end vehicles.

According to Babafemi, the agency’s most significant enforcement actions include the dismantling of transnational drug syndicates operating across West Africa, Europe, Asia and South America.

He said that the agency intercepted more than 1.63 million Tramadol pills linked to a three-truck trafficking pipeline originating from Togo and Benin Republic.

He said that the operation led to the arrest of two suspects transporting 853,000, and other consignments of Tramadol along the Lagos – Ibadan Expressway.

Babafemi further said that NDLEA dismantled a major cocaine syndicate following the interception of 184.5 kilogrammes of cocaine at a courier facility in Lagos.

He said that the operatives arrested an alleged cartel mastermind at the departure gate of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, while attempting to board a flight to Paris.

According to Babafemi, investigations into the syndicate exposed the use of fake identities and front companies to move illicit proceeds worth billions of naira.

The agency, he said, destroyed 329,865.58 kilogrammes of seized illicit drugs valued at N301.058 billion during a public destruction exercise in Lagos on Aug. 17.

Babafemi said that the agency recorded zero personnel casualties during all its kinetic operations within the reporting period.

Beyond enforcement, Babafemi said the War Against Drug Abuse initiative reached 225,500 people through 399 advocacy and sensitisation campaigns across schools, workplaces, places of worship, markets and communities.

He said that the agency continued international cooperation, including engagements with Egypt and United States agencies on intelligence sharing, joint operations and personnel training.

“Intelligence-led operations remain central to our efforts to penetrate cartel structures, disrupt supply chains and reduce the demand for illicit drugs,” he said.

He stressed that the agency would sustain its intelligence-driven approach while strengthening partnerships with security agencies, international partners and communities. (NAN)