Buhari hails NDLEA boss over seizure of $278.2m cocaine in Lagos

The suspects

President Muhammadu Buhari has extolled the chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd), over the arrest of an international drug syndicate and recovery of 1,855 kilograms of cocaine in Lagos State.

The Star had earlier reported that the NDLEA operatives raided a major warehouse in a secluded estate in Ikorodu area of Lagos State and seized 1.8 tons (1,855 kilograms) of the illicit drug worth more than $278,250,000 (N194,775,000,000).

The anti-drug agency described the seizure as the biggest singular cocaine seizure in the history of NDLEA.

According to the NDLEA, four drug barons including a Jamaican and the warehouse manager were arrested in the well-coordinated operation that lasted two days across different locations in Lagos State.

However, Buhari, in a telephone call to Marwa from New York where he is attending the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 77), on Monday, said the news of the recovery gladdens his heart.

“I deeply appreciate the work that you have put into the eradication of the drug menace. It gladdens my heart as I continue to follow the successes achieved under your leadership.

“You have demonstrated over and again that choosing you to lead this fight against wicked merchants of death whose sole aim is to endanger and truncate the future of our youth is a very good choice. Please keep up the good work,” Buhari was quoted as saying in a statement issued on Monday by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.

Speaking further during a meeting with members of his delegation, President Buhari said: “Buba Marwa is doing well. Two tonnes of cocaine, that’s a haul.”

The Star