President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commended the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (National Drug Law Enforcement Agency) for what he described as a landmark success in dismantling a sophisticated transborder drug network involving Nigerian and Mexican collaborators.
Reacting to the operation, the President praised the agency’s “exceptional professionalism, courage and commitment” following the weeks-long intelligence-driven crackdown that led to the arrest of foreign nationals, local kingpins and other collaborators linked to the illicit enterprise.
The NDLEA Chairman, Brigadier General Mohammed Buba Marwa, had earlier announced that the coordinated operation conducted with support from international partners resulted in the seizure of illicit drugs and precursor chemicals valued at over $360 million, alongside the dismantling of a major illegal production network operating within Nigeria.
President Tinubu warned that West Africa is increasingly being exploited as a transit hub for cocaine, synthetic drugs and unregulated pharmaceuticals destined for Europe and North America, describing the trend as a serious regional security concern.
He stressed that drug trafficking poses a grave threat not only to national security but also to the future of Nigerian youth, many of whom are vulnerable to substance abuse and exploitation by criminal syndicates.
The President urged Nigerians to treat the fight against illicit drugs as a collective responsibility, calling on citizens to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities to security agencies.
“This successful operation sends a clear message that organised crime will not be tolerated in Nigeria,” Tinubu said, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to strengthening security institutions and supporting the fight against drug trafficking networks across the country.
