The Enugu State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested 366 suspected drug traffickers and seized 1,560.97 kilograms (1.56 tonnes) of hard drugs in 2024.
The Commander of NDLEA in the state, Abel Wadahi, revealed this during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu.
Wadahi disclosed that the arrested suspects included 324 males and 42 females. Additionally, 39 male suspects were convicted at the Federal High Court in Enugu during the period under review, while 124 cases are still pending, and 118 cases are at various trial stages.
The seized drugs included cocaine, heroin, cannabis sativa (hemp), and methamphetamine, locally known as Mkpurumiri, among others.
Wadahi highlighted the command’s achievements in forfeitures, noting that in 2024, 11 vehicles and 24 motorcycles were forfeited. He added that in 2025, four vehicles and two motorcycles were seized and are awaiting court rulings for interim forfeiture.
“In the year 2024, NDLEA Enugu State Command successfully counseled, treated, and rehabilitated 335 individuals in our small rehabilitation facility. We look forward to doing more once we have the new rehabilitation centre,” Wadahi said.
The command also intensified its preventive measures with 109 sensitisation and awareness programmes aimed at young people in schools, motor parks, worship centres, workplaces, and communities. These efforts reached a total of 47,651 people—comprising 23,643 males and 24,008 females—in 2024.
“This is in addition to the thousands of homes reached with our anti-substance abuse messages through our aggressive and impactful media campaign using various traditional and new media platforms,” Wadahi added.
He urged the public to show empathy toward individuals undergoing treatment, stressing that such support aids the rehabilitation process.
“NDLEA has invested resources in the prevention of abuse and trafficking of illicit substances and will not relent in its effort to cut off supply channels and dismantle trafficking networks,” he stated.
“When you cut off drug supplies, you deny users availability and access to them, including insurgents, terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, and sundry criminals, who rely on drugs to foster their criminalities,” Wadahi said.
The NDLEA commander expressed gratitude to the agency’s chairman, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (retired), and the Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, for their consistent support and encouragement.
