NDLEA Kaduna operation: 1,290 suspects arrested, 4,500kg drugs seized in 2024

In 2024, the Kaduna State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) reported that it had apprehended 1,290 people and confiscated 4,589.361 kg of illegal narcotics.

Mr. Samaila Danmalam, the Commander of the NDLEA Kaduna State Command, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna on Tuesday that the arrests and seizures took place between January and December 2024.

Danmalam clarified that in order to eradicate drug usage and illegal trafficking, the Command used a kinetic approach. 1,290 people, including drug traffickers, illegal drug users, and other enablers of drug-related crimes, were arrested as a result of the multiple assignments and raid operations that were conducted.
Operations and seizures

Furthermore, 4,589.361 kg of hard drugs, including cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine, tramadol, rohypnol, and other psychiatric substances, were seized as a result of the operations.

He continued by saying that during its activities during that time, the command intercepted 2,023 9mm and 7.62mm rounds of ammunition in addition to two firearms: an English handgun and a locally made pistol.

Operational and financial achievements
In addition, the command removed 124 illegal drug shops that were used as gathering places for illegal activity and confiscated counterfeit N4.8 million worth of N1,000 notes.

Danmalam underlined that “kinetic means alone cannot win the drug war.”

The command stepped up its efforts in 2024 by holding awareness lectures, sensitization campaigns, counseling drug users, and rehabilitating others to help them become contributing members of society again.

Convictions and prosecutions
Additionally, Danmalam stated that 155 of the 189 individuals who were prosecuted in court were found guilty and given terms ranging from two to fifteen years in prison.

He thanked the media, community-based organizations, civil society organizations, traditional leaders, community heads, the Kaduna State Government, and other security agencies for their cooperation and assistance.

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Danmalam urged everyone to keep sending timely and helpful information to help the command reach a drug-free state.

Additional Perspectives
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) recently claimed that six foreign people had been arrested and 1,960 kg of cannabis had been intercepted at Eleko Beach in Lekki, Lagos.

Additionally, Kosisochukwu Ozigbo (21) was arrested by NDLEA agents on December 23 after they conducted a raid on New Lagos Road in Benin City, Edo State. 32,490 Tramadol pills, 936 bottles of codeine-based syrup, and many narcotics were found on the suspect.

Apart from its initiatives against drug lords, NDLEA persisted in promoting its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) programs across the country, stepping up public awareness and education about the risks associated with drug misuse.