Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), has disclosed that the agency seized more than two billion tramadol tablets during anti-drug operations conducted over the last 18 months.
Marwa said the record seizure highlights the magnitude of the illegal tramadol trade in Nigeria and reflects the agency’s intensified campaign against drug trafficking and substance abuse. According to him, the NDLEA has continued to expand its intelligence-driven operations to intercept illicit drugs before they reach local communities.
The NDLEA boss explained that the agency has increased surveillance at the country’s borders, ports, airports, and other strategic locations to dismantle trafficking networks responsible for the illegal importation and distribution of controlled substances. He added that collaboration with security agencies and international partners has strengthened enforcement efforts.
The announcement underscores the growing concern over the abuse of tramadol, a prescription opioid that has become one of the most frequently trafficked pharmaceutical drugs in Nigeria. Medical professionals have consistently warned that misuse of the drug can result in addiction, organ damage, and other severe health complications, while security experts have linked illicit drug trafficking to violent crime and insecurity.
Marwa reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to sustaining its nationwide crackdown on narcotics traffickers and called for greater public participation in the fight against drug abuse. He urged parents, schools, community leaders, and religious organizations to support awareness campaigns aimed at preventing substance misuse, particularly among young people.
The disclosure is important because it illustrates both the scale of Nigeria’s drug trafficking challenge and the government’s efforts to reduce the availability of illicit substances. Stakeholders say enforcement alone is not enough, stressing that prevention, rehabilitation, and public education remain critical to addressing the country’s drug abuse crisis.
The NDLEA is the federal agency responsible for enforcing Nigeria’s drug control laws, prosecuting drug-related offences, and coordinating programmes focused on prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation. In recent years, the agency has intensified operations targeting drug cartels as part of broader efforts to strengthen public health and national security.
