Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has publicly destroyed 25,807.192 kilogrammes of illicit drugs, including cannabis, codeine, cocaine, and heroin, in a historic operation held in Owerri, Imo State, marking the first time such a large-scale public destruction has taken place in the state. The exercise, conducted on Saturday, June 20, 2026, was described by the agency's chairman as a statement of accountability and a warning to traffickers that their ill‑gotten goods would be destroyed in full public view.
Speaking during the event, the NDLEA Chairman, Major General Mohammed Buba-Marwa (retd.), who was represented by the agency's Director of Operations and General Investigation, Ahmed Ningi, detailed the composition of the massive haul. The destroyed substances included 24,945.302 kilogrammes of cannabis sativa, 2,319 litres of codeine‑based cough syrup, 29.65 kilogrammes of methamphetamine, 3.169 kilogrammes of cocaine, 1.378 kilogrammes of heroin, and 827.702 kilogrammes of other psychotropic substances, according to a News Agency of Nigeria report cited by Vanguard and other outlets.
Buba‑Marwa described the public burning as "a statement of accountability to the Nigerian public and a way of assuring the citizens that drugs seized by the Agency never find their way back to the streets through any back door." He emphasised that the drugs were "not recycled, not resold, not lost in transit, they are destroyed openly, irreversibly and in full view of the public we serve". The NDLEA chairman also issued a stern warning to drug traffickers, declaring: "We will find you, arrest you, prosecute you and destroy your ill-gotten exhibits in the full glare of the public just as we are doing here today".
The Imo State NDLEA Commander, Mr. Chinonye Nnyigide, said the seized substances were recovered through intelligence‑driven operations, raids, and sustained enforcement actions carried out by the command's officers with support from sister agencies. He confirmed that all the substances had passed through the necessary legal and administrative processes before their destruction, in accordance with established procedures and applicable laws.
The Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, who was represented by his deputy, Mrs. Chinyere Ekomaru, described the public destruction as an eloquent testimony of the government's commitment to protecting lives in society. The Special Adviser to the Governor on Narcotics and Illicit Drugs Monitoring, Chief Ezechukwu Obonna, commended the NDLEA for its relentless efforts, stating that the event was "a clear testimony that the state has zero tolerance for drug trafficking and drug abuse".
The destruction of over 25 tonnes of illicit substances in Owerri represents a significant milestone in Nigeria's ongoing battle against drug trafficking and abuse, which has been identified as a major driver of crime, violence, and public health crises across the country. The NDLEA has intensified its crackdown on drug trafficking networks in recent months, with several major seizures and arrests reported nationwide.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com ✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments