NDLEA Seizes 1.3 Billion Tramadol Pills, 4.4 Million Codeine Bottles in 18 Months — Marwa

By Our Reporter

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has seized a staggering 1.3 billion pills of Tramadol and 4.4 million bottles of Codeine within the last 18 months, its Chairman, retired Brigadier-General Buba Marwa, revealed on Tuesday.

Speaking at a government-citizen engagement session in Kaduna, Marwa painted a chilling picture of the scale of Nigeria’s drug crisis and the agency’s ongoing battle to contain it.

“In just 18 months, from January 2024 to June 2025, we seized over 1.3 billion tablets of Tramadol, known on the streets as opium, and 4.4 million bottles of Codeine syrup,” Marwa disclosed. “A single pill of Tramadol now sells for ₦1,000. The street value of one billion pills could easily hit ₦1 trillion. That’s enough money to arm terrorists and bandits across the country.”

He credited these landmark seizures to the backing of President Bola Tinubu, stating that since Tinubu assumed office in 2023, the NDLEA had confiscated a total of 5,555 tonnes of illicit drugs, equivalent to 200 trailer loads of narcotics.

“Imagine 200 trailers of illegal substances flooding our streets,” Marwa said. “But it didn’t stop there. We’ve arrested 2,000 drug traffickers, secured 8,682 convictions, and rehabilitated over 24,000 drug users in that time.”

Marwa also highlighted NDLEA’s extensive grassroots advocacy, targeting motor parks, schools, religious centres, and markets to spread awareness about drug abuse, emphasizing that these campaigns were possible because of President Tinubu’s support.

On rehabilitation efforts, Marwa announced that Tinubu had approved the construction of seven new drug rehabilitation centres. Combined with NDLEA’s existing 30 facilities, this expansion brings the total number to 37 centres nationwide—ensuring one rehabilitation centre per state.

Additionally, the President has greenlit the establishment of one modern rehab centre in each of the six geopolitical zones, Marwa added, expressing hope that construction would begin this year.

He assured Nigerians that the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Tinubu administration is on track and designed to address root causes of drug abuse such as idleness, poverty, and unemployment.

Marwa praised the governments of Kwara and Kaduna States for their proactive measures in tackling drug abuse and urged other states to emulate their example.

However, he stressed that the battle against drug abuse should not be left to the government alone. “Families must take ownership. The fight starts with parenting and community vigilance,” Marwa said, calling for drug education to be integrated into primary school curricula and for traditional rulers, religious leaders, and local communities to actively join the anti-drug campaign.