President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has hailed the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for busting a major Nigerian-Mexican drug cartel and dismantling a sophisticated multi-million-dollar drug production network operating in the country.
This was contained in a statement made available to The News Chronicle by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
The President commended the agency’s operatives for what he described as an extraordinary display of professionalism, courage, and commitment in an operation that led to the arrest of foreign nationals, local drug kingpins, and several collaborators.
NDLEA Chairman, Brigadier General Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd), announced the breakthrough on Wednesday after weeks of intelligence gathering and coordinated operations carried out in collaboration with international partners.
According to President Tinubu, the operation also led to the seizure of chemicals and illicit drugs valued at over $360 million.
“This successful operation demonstrates exceptional professionalism, courage, and unwavering commitment to safeguarding society from the devastating effects of narcotics.”
The President warned that West Africa has increasingly become a major transit hub for cocaine, synthetic drugs and illegal pharmaceuticals bound for Europe and North America, describing the trend as both a security threat and a danger to the future of young people across the region.
“Drugs not only pose a critical security threat for our region, but they also pose a grave danger to the future of our youth, some of whom have become victims of the trade,” he stated.
Tinubu urged Nigerians to support the anti-drug war by remaining vigilant and reporting suspicious activities to security agencies, stressing that the fight against illicit drugs should not be left to the NDLEA alone.
“This landmark success is a strong message that our security agencies will not tolerate organized crime and criminality anywhere in the country,” the President added.
