NDLEA promotes eight officers for busting drug smuggling operation

NDLEA Chairman, Buba Marwa, presenting promotion letter to one of the officers.

The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (retd.) has granted special promotions to eight officers of the Marine Command of the Agency for their brave and professional conduct during a recent operation.

The officers arrested a drug trafficker and intercepted boats moving illicit drugs from Ghana to Nigeria through the Lagos waterways.

The operation was conducted on August 23, 2024, following an actionable intelligence around 3 am.

The promoted officers are Dick Aaron Dick; Alabi Mayowa; Gabriel Ubokikwan; Aso John; Abdul Sule; Ngabolo, Victor Sonpano; Jonah Sule, and Membe Gabriel.

Marwa decorated the officers with their new ranks and also gave them a commendation letter in Abuja on Thursday.

Marwa said the officers exhibited bravery to stop an attempt by drug traffickers to smuggle 60 jumbo bags of illicit drugs from a neighbouring country to Nigeria.

He said, “Every time we have a breakthrough, it tells the world a story about the new NDLEA we are working hard to build. It also reinforces our conviction as an organisation that we are on the right track. So, an occasion such as this is a source of pride for me.

“In this case, we have officers who exhibited bravery and an unwavering sense of duty in the face of adversity on the waterways to thwart an attempt by a criminal gang to smuggle 60 jumbo bags of illicit drugs from a neighbouring country.

“Despite obvious attempts to thwart our interdiction bid, our officers were resilient and prevailed over the situation. It is in recognition of their gallantry that they are given a special promotion and we are holding this ceremony to decorate them. This is keeping with our culture of rewarding hard work, results, and sacrifice.”

He said the reward scheme is also part of the sweeping reforms he instituted in the past three years to motivate officers to raise their performance level.

Marwa said, “Under this scheme, we have instituted the bi-annual Command Awards and Commendation as well as special promotion for deserving officers, among other measures. I must say that the eight officers I will be decorating shortly showed bravery and dedication to duty and are deserving of a reward.”

Speaking on the operation, Marwa said two boats were intercepted by the officers.

“They however faced some unfavourable encounters in the process of intercepting the second boat,

“ But in the face of violent provocation, our officers did not lose focus, as they went ahead to recover the exhibits.

“They were able to seize 60 bags of Ghanaian Loud, a strong strain of cannabis, weighing 2, 400 kgs.

“ They successfully arrested a suspect, Hambo Tete, 30, who is Ghanaian and impounded the exhibit boat powered by three outboard engines,” he added.

Marwa said the actions of the officers in the night were significant in showing criminal elements that the NDLEA was also active on the waterways.

He said, “ First, it is an affirmation that we have been successful at making the normal trafficking routes through the airport and land borders impenetrable. Hence, traffickers seeking alternative routes are trying to turn to the waterways.

“The second significance is that such traffickers  will meet their Waterloo even on the waterways because of the presence of our Marine Command.”

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, the team leader, Aaron Dick, expressed gratitude to the NDLEA boss for transforming the Agency into an efficient and result-oriented organisation through purposeful and exemplary leadership.

He said the special promotion and commendation will not only motivate him and his colleagues to do more but will equally inspire other personnel of the Agency to be exceptional in the discharge of their duties.