Marwa vows zero tolerance as NDLEA intercepts terror-linked drug

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has raised fresh concerns over the re-emergence of Captagon, a highly addictive stimulant linked to terrorist financing and insurgency.

NDLEA Chairman Mohamed Buba Marwa described the recent seizure of 10,000 pills in Kwara State as a major disruption to criminal networks attempting to reintroduce the drug into Nigeria.

Captagon, widely abused in the Middle East, has been associated with fighters of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, who reportedly use it to enhance endurance and suppress fear during combat.

Marwa warned that traffickers are targeting Nigeria as a potential transit hub, stressing that the agency’s latest interception is a “wake-up call” to security agencies.

“We are not just seizing drugs; we are cutting off resources that fuel violence,” he said, assuring that NDLEA operatives remain on high alert across all entry points.

The agency also intercepted 394 components suspected to be used for improvised explosive devices in Niger State, further heightening concerns about the intersection between drug trafficking and security threats.