The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has recorded over 80,000 arrests and obtained more than 15,000 convictions in its nationwide anti-drug operations carried out between January 2021 and May 2026.

The agency also confirmed that it intercepted over 15 million kilogrammes of illicit drugs within the period, describing the outcome as evidence of the effectiveness of its intelligence-based enforcement model.

The disclosure was made in Abuja on Tuesday by the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria.

Babafemi attributed the results to a strategic shift introduced under the leadership of the agency’s Chairman, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, which prioritises prevention, intelligence gathering, and early disruption of drug networks.

He explained that the agency has moved away from reactive policing, opting instead to monitor and neutralise trafficking operations before they reach Nigerian communities.

“Our work is fully intelligence-driven. We study global drug trafficking patterns and maintain close cooperation with relevant security and drug enforcement bodies worldwide,” he said.

According to him, this proactive approach has strengthened the agency’s capacity to identify and intercept illicit shipments at their source.

Babafemi added that the NDLEA has also expanded its focus on reducing drug demand through sustained public sensitisation, rehabilitation, and counselling programmes.

He disclosed that more than 14,000 awareness campaigns were conducted under the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative across the country during the review period.

In addition, over 50,000 individuals benefited from counselling, treatment, and rehabilitation services provided through 30 NDLEA rehabilitation centres nationwide.

He stressed that stopping drugs before distribution remains central to the agency’s operational philosophy.

“In many cases, it is more effective to intercept these substances early than to attempt recovery after they have entered communities,” he noted.

Babafemi said this forward-looking strategy has improved operational efficiency while reducing the scale of drug circulation in society.

He further stated that the approach is anchored on the offensive action policy introduced in 2021 by the NDLEA leadership.

On collaboration, Babafemi said the fight against drug trafficking cannot be achieved by a single institution, stressing the importance of joint action among agencies.

He listed key domestic partners as the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Police Force, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Armed Forces.

He added that several of these partnerships have been formalised through Memoranda of Understanding to enhance coordination and intelligence sharing.

Internationally, the NDLEA works with agencies such as the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, the UK Home Office International Operations, UK Border Force, UK National Crime Agency, as well as law enforcement bodies in Germany, France, Brazil, India, and Saudi Arabia.

The agency also maintains cooperation with drug control authorities in several African countries, including Ghana, Kenya, and The Gambia.

Babafemi said these partnerships have strengthened intelligence exchange, joint operations, and capacity building, contributing significantly to enforcement outcomes over the past five years.

He reaffirmed the NDLEA’s commitment to sustaining intelligence-led operations and deepening collaboration to counter drug trafficking and reduce substance abuse across Nigeria.