Tag: NDLEA

• Marwa lauds Tinubu, Macron rapport on bilateral relations

The French Government has assured the leadership of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) of more support in training, capacity building and logistics.

It said its support for the anti-narcotic agency would further boost its operational capability in the effort to curb the scourge of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking.

The Director of Security and Defence Cooperation at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Lt.-Gen. Regis Colcombet, gave the assurance when he led a delegation to the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.

A statement yesterday in Abuja by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, quoted Colcombet as saying the meeting with Marwa and his team was a follow-up to the bilateral agreements between President Emmanuel Macron of France and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria during the latter’s recent state visit to Paris, the French capital.

The French official recalled that he had also met Marwa in a similar meeting in France about two years ago on areas of support for the NDLEA.

Read Also: NDLEA arrests drug baron after 17-year manhunt

“It’s important for us to be here because it’s now three months after the very successful state visit of your president to France, which has a lot of developments. We’ve been requested to come, develop, follow up and see how we can go further on the development of this cooperation. It’s very important,” he said.

Responding to requests on areas on more support for the NDLEA, Colcombet promised that apart from the trainings to be provided for selected NDLEA officers across commands and formations on tactical operations, slots would be given for more personnel on cyber security at the French Regional Academy in Cote d’Ivoire.

He also promised that the agency would get some logistics that would aid the practicability of the trainings.

Marwa expressed delight at the advancement and growth of the relationship between Nigeria and France following the good rapport between Presidents Tinubu and Macron.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has arrested a wanted drug baron, Ogbonnaya Kevin Jeff, 17 years after a manhunt was launched for him.

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), in a press briefing on Monday, said the arrest brings to an end a reign of hiding in the dark to ship illicit drugs worth billions of naira across the world.

Marwa said Jeff was arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at his hideout in the Ojo area of Lagos.

The NDLEA Boss said operatives of its Special Operations Unit had been on the trail of Ogbonnaya following an Interpol red notice against him and information from the National Intelligence Service of South Korea.

Read Also: EFCC confirms raid on Minna hotel, denies bandit involvement 

Marwa said, “The major development that warranted this special briefing pertains to the arrest of a drug lord who’s wanted across the world as the leader of an international drug trafficking organisation. I am therefore pleased to announce this significant breakthrough in our efforts to dismantle drug trafficking syndicates operating within the country.

“As we have said four years ago when we began the reform of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), our prime targets are drug barons and other important figures that organise drug trafficking rings.

“On Wednesday, 12th February 2025, we achieved that objective in the successful arrest of Ogbonnaya Kevin Jeff, a 59-year-old drug baron. The suspect was arrested at his hideout at No. 3, Ibukunoluwa Taiwo Close, off LASU Road, Lagos.

“He has been under NDLEA investigation before his arrest. As a result, we have comprehensive intelligence on his activities and incontrovertible facts that he is a notorious drug lord who recruited young Nigerians as couriers to smuggle illicit substances into the Republic of Korea (South Korea).

“Our records reveal that many Nigerians apprehended outside the country for drug-related offences were linked to him. Furthermore, we have established that he laundered drug proceeds through the importation of electronics and other goods. Following his arrest, a search of his residence led to the recovery of multiple Nigerian international passports belonging to different individuals, many of which contained Korean visas. Additionally, we recovered some illicit substances in a storehouse at the back of his house.”

While unmasking the suspect’s leadership role in the drug underworld, the NDLEA boss said, “Ogbonnaya Kevin Jeff is not a typical domestic drug baron; he is an international trafficker operating both from Nigeria and abroad. His dossier indicates that he served a one-year prison sentence in the Republic of Korea in 2007 and was deported to Nigeria in 2008.

“Despite this, he continued his illicit trade, remaining actively involved in drug trafficking operations to the Far East.

“Presently, he is wanted in the Republic of Korea for multiple drug trafficking offences in collaboration with his accomplices. An INTERPOL Red Notice was issued for his arrest and extradition to the country for offences committed between 2023 and 2024.

“From a series of interdictions, it has been established that Ogbonnaya Kevin Jeff is the ringleader of a drug trafficking organisation responsible for smuggling narcotics into the People’s Republic of Korea.

“He has been orchestrating operations remotely by giving instructions to drug mules and domestic suppliers who are members of his syndicate spread across Cameroon, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Liberia and other East and Southern African countries.”

He further gave insights into what investigations had unearthed about Ogbonnaya’s illicit trade activities.

“On 5th October 2023, at a location in Burkina Faso, the suspect dispatched 6,051.06 grams of skunk, concealed in dried chillies and jujube, to a Korean, Kim Dong Wook at a designated address in Jinju City, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea. The package arrived at Incheon Airport on 19th October 2023 at 07:20 am via Air France.

“Investigation reveals that while residing in Nigeria, he directed his drug couriers, Santa Elizabeth Pieterse and Carl Yohan Stephan Brisman, to smuggle a total of five kilograms of methamphetamine into South Korea via overseas flights between December 2023 and April 2024. In recent time alone, he has sent illicit drugs worth over N1.4 billion in street value to South Korea.

“Ogbonnoya maintains another domestic carrier, identified as “Asa”, who delivers for him drug consignments to a warehouse operated by Okori Emmanuel, a Nigerian who is his supply manager in South Korea. As of now, two arrest warrants have been issued against Ogbonnaya by the Seoul Central District Court in January and June 2024. These warrants charge him with importing narcotic drugs in violation of Article 3-7 of South Korea’s Narcotics Control Act, an offence punishable by a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.”

Marwa assured of NDLEA’s commitment to ensuring that Nigeria does not serve as a base for international drug trafficking operations.

“We will continue our relentless fight against illicit drug networks and their financiers, in line with our mandate to safeguard public health and national security. The arrest of Ogbonnaya is therefore an affirmation of our resolve to work with our international partners to ensure no drug baron finds Nigeria a comfort zone to distribute illicit substances within the country or traffic them to other countries.”

…Speaker Abbas seeks mitigation policies 

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has raised the alarm over the rising drug abuse crisis in North-West Nigeria, with an estimated three million people—12% of the region’s population—affected by the menace.

Concerned by the troubling statistics, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, has called for the enactment and enforcement of policies to tackle the root causes of drug abuse and domestic violence.

Speaking at the launch of a four-month campaign against drug abuse, illicit drug trade, and domestic violence in Kaduna on Monday, NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) described the crisis as a major threat to public health, security, and economic stability.

Marwa noted that the epidemic, primarily affecting young people, is fueled by the growing availability of illicit substances such as cannabis, tramadol, codeine, and morphine. He warned that, like other parts of Nigeria, the North-West is grappling with increased addiction, crime, and social instability, leading to lost productivity, financial strain, and heightened insecurity.

A breakdown of the figures reveals Kano State as the hardest hit, with 16% of its population—about 1.07 million people—affected. Zamfara follows with 13.5%, while Kebbi (12.6%), Katsina (12%), Kaduna (10%), Sokoto (9%), and Jigawa (7%) also record worrying levels of substance use.

Read Also: Gender mainstreaming key to reducing civilian casualty during conflict, says NDC commandant

Marwa emphasized that drug-related crimes are fueling insecurity, including banditry, kidnapping, and terrorism, making the crisis not just a law enforcement issue but also a socio-economic and public health challenge requiring urgent, collective action.

In response, the NDLEA has established 30 rehabilitation centers nationwide, including model facilities in Kano, Abuja, and Adamawa. Marwa also urged North-West governors to establish at least three additional centers in their states to meet the rising demand for treatment.

To encourage those struggling with addiction to seek help without fear of stigma, the agency has launched a national call center offering confidential support in major Nigerian languages—Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo.

Speaker Tajudeen Abbas who was also the Convener of the Campaign, also called on community leaders to foster a culture that unequivocally rejects drug abuse and domestic violence. 

He lamented that, “in Kaduna State alone, NDLEA statistics indicate a 28 per cent increase in drug seizures in 2023 compared to the previous year, while similar troubling trends have been observed in Katsina, Kano, Sokoto, Zamfara, Jigawa, and Kebbi. In these states, law enforcement agencies are contending with a surge in the availability and consumption of illicit substances, which threatens public safety and undermines socioeconomic stability.

“Equally concerning is the scourge of domestic violence that continues to ravage families and communities across our nation, particularly in our region. Data from the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey and reports from the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development reveal that nearly 35 per cent of women nationwide have experienced some form of domestic violence,” he said.

While noting that, the proactive and strategic measures already implemented by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration stand as a robust framework for change, saying that, it must be built upon to create a safer and more secured future for every Nigerian.

“I call upon all the Governors of the Northwest States and their Local Government Chairmen to wholeheartedly support this initiative and work in unison with the agencies charged with its execution. The future of our region depends on the decisive actions we take today. Let us unite our efforts to protect our youth from the destructive allure of drugs and uphold the rights and dignity of every citizen,” he appealed.

The Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, described the campaign as a crucial step toward breaking the cycle of drug abuse and crime. He said “the involvement of traditional rulers, religious leaders, parents, and community members is critical in reversing the trend.

Issa-Onilu aLao announced that “ the campaign would include town hall meetings, community outreach, advocacy visits, and extensive media engagement to raise awareness across the region.”

Marwa further urged state governments to support the NDLEA by providing land for additional barracks and expanding job opportunities for young people, noting that unemployment is a key driver of substance abuse and crime.

He stressed that efforts must go beyond enforcement, adding that young people need alternatives—education, employment, and empowerment—to steer them away from the lure of drugs and criminality.

The four-month campaign will focus on tackling drug addiction, curbing illicit drug trade, and addressing related social issues such as domestic violence in the seven states of the North-West geo-political zone.

• …intercepts UK-bound drug shipments concealed in walls of crated cartons

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 24-year-old Thai lady, Ms. Pattaphi Wimonnat, for attempting to smuggle 43 parcels of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, weighing 46.60 kilograms into Nigeria through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.

Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi, who made this known in a statement on Sunday, said she was arrested after operatives discovered the illicit consignment in her boxes.

Babafemi said the suspect confessed to being a hired drug trafficker.

She was arrested on Thursday 20th February 2025 during the inward clearance of passengers on Qatar Airways flight from Thailand via Doha, Qatar at the arrival hall, terminal 2 of the Lagos airport.

According to statement, she said the drug cartel, which recruited her promised to pay her $3,000 upon successful delivery of the illicit drug consignment in Nigeria.

Babafemi said another bid by a drug trafficking syndicate to ship 68 parcels of Ghanaian Loud with a total weight of 42.2kg concealed in walls of crated cartons to London, UK, through the export shed of the Lagos airport was also frustrated by NDLEA officers on Friday 21st February. 

It reads, “Three suspects: a freight agent and two dispatch riders were initially arrested in connection with the seizure before the mastermind of the shipment, Samuel Bitris, was swiftly traced to his Exodus Estate, Ajah, Lagos home where he was arrested.

Read Also: NDLEA dedicates new Yola barracks to Tinubu

“At the Port Harcourt Port Complex, Onne, Rivers state, NDLEA officers on Thursday 20th February intercepted 49 cartons containing 49,000 pills of tamol, a brand of tramadol 225mg in a 40ft container during a joint examination of the shipment with men of Customs Service and other security agencies.

“In Nasarawa state, NDLEA operatives on Saturday 22nd February arrested two suspects: Bello Adamu, 40, and Pius Azuka, 42 at Kokona/Keffi with 517kg of skunk, while two other suspects: Usman Ruwa, 43, and Yunusa Haruna, 45, were nabbed in a Toyota Corolla car conveying 62.7 kilograms of skunk along Sabon Asibiti road Kontagora, Niger state on Thursday 20th February.

“With the same vigour, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.

“These include: WADA sensitisation lecture to students and staff of Maku Grammar School, Tapa, Oyo state; Comprehensive Secondary School, Orogwe, Imo state; Jama’atu Islamiyya Secondary School, Ankpa, Kogi state; and Owerri-Aba Primary School, Ugwunagba, Imo state, among others.

“While commending the officers and men of MMIA, PHPC, Niger, and Nasarwa Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) stated that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts are well appreciated.”

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has inaugurated its first barracks in Yola, the Adamawa State capital.

The agency’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (retd.), dedicated the barracks to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Marwa said President Tinubu’s commitment to the welfare and safety of NDLEA’s security personnel inspired the building of the barracks.

The NDLEA boss said the new barracks and others that would be constructed later would prevent the tracing of the agency’s operatives to their houses and killed by suspected drug dealers the officers were licensed to fight.

“Our officers have over the years been traced to their homes and killed, prompting the need for secured environment for them,” he said.

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The NDLEA facility is located on the Yola-Numan Road in Yola South Local Government Area. It is situated on an 18-hectare land with various amenities, like living quarters for senior, middle, and top cadre personnel. Other facilities include offices, interrogation and detention rooms, parade ground, among others.

The quarters and offices are for the use of the Adamawa State Command and Zone D headquarters of the NDLEA located in Yola.

Marwa described the Yola barracks as the first of its kind by the agency, promising that it would be replicated across the country.

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), who was the special guest of honour of the inauguration, said the fight against drug abuse is a fight for Nigeria’s future.

He added that the building of the NDLEA barracks in Yola was testament to Federal Government’s appreciation of the services of the NDLEA personnel.

…2,000kg of drugs recovered

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has arrested 799 suspects including a soldier in Akwa Ibom state for drrug-related crimes.

The agency also revealed that of the number of suspects arrested 181 have so far been convicted, adding that it recovered 2,000 of hard substances between 2024 and February,2025.

The state commander of the NDLEA, Mrs. Obot Uduak Bassey, made the disclosure yesterday when she paid a courtesy to the leadership of the state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Uyo.

Bassey mentioned that Akwa Ibom is a high pandemic state in terms of the use and sale of illicit drugs, adding that it has a recorded of flashpoints in the state.

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She also said that scores of it’s operatives have been killed in the course of  carrying out their official duties of ridding the state of dangerous drug cartels.  

“It may interest you to know that we have raided Nasarawa, a Hausa community in the state, severally. And we also arrested the soldier that was seen using hard drugs. He has been dismissed from service. It was what we do all the time.

“If you have been following up the news you will know that one of us was burnt alive during an engagement with a drug gang in the state. I don’t want to bore you with details but a number of our operatives have been killed in 2025 alone

“Most of us seated here are just lucky to be alive. We do know most of the flashpoints in Uyo and the entire state but we can’t know everything that’s we welcome our informants.

“The Hausa community in Marina roundabout in Eket is a notorious flashpoint. We have been there a couple of times and we were attacked, mobbed and shot at.”

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has commissioned its first of a kind barracks in Yola, Adamawa State.

During the commissioning ceremony on Tuesday, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Mohammed Buba Marwa, dedicated the barracks to President Bola Tinubu.

Marwa said Tinubu’s commitment to the welfare and safety of NDLEA’s security personnel inspires the building of the barracks. 

Read Also: Osun police confirm six dead in APC-PDP clash over LGA control 

He said the barracks and more to come would address instances in the past when NDLEA officers were traced to their houses and killed perceivably by drug dealers that the officers were fighting.

“Our officers have over the years been traced to their homes and killed, prompting the need for secured environment for them,” he said in his opening remark at the commissioning of the NDLEA Barracks located along the Yola-Numan Road in Yola South Local Government Area.

The barracks is situated on an 18-hectare land with facilities that include living quarters for senior, middle and top cadre personnel as well as other facilities, namely offices, interrogation and detention rooms, parade ground, and so on.

The quarters and offices are for the use of the Adamawa State Command and Zone D headquarters of the NDLEA, both located in Yola. 

Marwa announced that the Yola barracks complex is the first such initiative but would be replicated across the country.

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi who was the Special Guest of Honour of the commissioning ceremony, said the fight against drug abuse is a fight for Nigeria’s future and that the building of the NDLEA Barracks Yola is testament to federal government’s appreciation of the services of the NDLEA personnel. 

 The family of the late Aliyu Imran who was  gruesomely murdered on Friday by a mob says the allegation of neglect by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) is false and misleading.

The Head of the family, Hassan Idris-Funtua, stated this is a statement issued to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)on Monday in Kaduna.

Idris-Funtua said, “We, the family of Assistant Superintendent of Narcotics  Imrana, would like to address the recent publications by some media outlets  regarding the tragic death of our loved one.

“The article, which cited a media falsely claimed that we accused the NDLEA of neglect.

“We categorically deny this allegation. In reality, the NDLEA has been supportive and proactive in its response to this tragedy.

Read Also: NDLEA busts trans-border drug cartel

“Its Chairman/CEO, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, personally reached out to us within hours of the incident, offering condolences and assurances of his commitment to addressing the issue.”

He further stated that staffers from the NDLEA’s Kaduna State Command attended Imran’s burial and visited us.

Idris-Funtua added that another team from the agency’s National  Headquarters in Abuja had also visited the family on Sunday.

“We urge the public to disregard such  publication as it lacks merit and does not reflect our family’s position.

” We request that media houses respect our family’s grief and refrain from distracting the public from the main issue,  the gruesome murder of Aliyu Imrab, a promising young man who was brutally taken from us just 48 days after his wedding.

“Our focus now is on coming to terms with this senseless tragedy and seeking justice.

“We have faith that the law will take its course and those responsible will be held accountable.” Idris-Funtua said.

(NAN)