The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) have announced a weeklong series of events to mark the 2026 World Drug Day. The anti-narcotics agency has vowed to aggressively dismantle the financial empires of illicit drug cartels.
Joint Press Briefing in Abuja
The initiatives were unveiled during a joint press briefing at the NDLEA national headquarters in Abuja over the weekend, ahead of the global event observed annually on June 26. This year's theme is “The World Drug Problem: Persisting Issues, New Challenges, Innovative Responses.”
Modernizing Enforcement Strategies
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (rtd), represented by the agency’s Secretary, Shadrach Haruna, stated that traditional enforcement models are no longer sufficient to address the rise of synthetic drugs and digital black markets. He noted, “Under the continuous support of the Federal Government and our diverse stakeholders, we have heavily modernised our operations and enforcement capabilities with aggressive social advocacy.”
Marwa emphasized that the agency’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative remains the primary vehicle for preventive action, now refitted to tackle new challenges by leveraging data, community intelligence, and innovative public enlightenment tools.
Targeting Financial Networks
The NDLEA's offensive campaign, strengthened by the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA), is actively targeting the assets of major syndicates. “We are not just arresting traffickers, we are liquidating their financial empires,” Marwa said. “Through civil action instruments, assets reasonably suspected to be proceeds of drug crimes are aggressively targeted and forfeited to the Federal Government, effectively cutting off the lifeblood of these criminal networks.”
Upcoming Events
The agency detailed a series of advocacy and spiritual events leading up to the grand finale, including special Juma'at prayers at the National Mosque in Abuja on Friday, June 19, a ‘Walk Against Drugs,’ and a nationwide thanksgiving church service, among others.
