The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, has called for stronger collaboration among security and law enforcement agencies to intensify the fight against illicit drug trafficking and deny criminal networks access to resources that fuel violent activities.

Adeniyi made the call on Monday, 17 August 2026, in Lagos, during the public destruction of 329,865.585 kilogrammes of assorted narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances worth ₦301 billion by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The CGC said the volume of illicit drugs destroyed was significant and reflected the extensive scope of enforcement operations conducted across Nigeria’s seaports, airports and land borders. He stressed that defeating the menace required unity among security and law enforcement agencies.


“All agencies that are involved; NDLEA, Nigeria Customs, Navy, Army, Police and all other agencies of government, including the Judiciary, must continue to work together with one common goal of denying those non-state actors access to this kind of material that they need to perpetrate their evil acts,” he said.

Adeniyi also commended the partnership between the NCS and NDLEA, particularly the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) providing for intelligence and information sharing, joint operations and investigations.

“I am happy to know that this is beginning to yield positive results. I’m happy that through efforts like this, we will carry out very diligent investigations, we will throw perpetrators in jail, and we will all assemble in places like this to effect the destruction and ensure that these do not end up in the wrong hands.”

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (Rtd), described the destruction exercise as a demonstration of the Federal Government’s determination to protect citizens and safeguard the nation’s future. “Today is not merely an exercise; it is a bold demonstration of Nigeria’s unwavering resolve to protect her people, defend her future, deny criminal enterprises the oxygen that they need to thrive,” Marwa said.

He noted that the exercise went beyond enforcing drug laws, as it also strengthened Nigeria’s national security architecture and protected the country’s sovereignty. Marwa commended sister security agencies, particularly the Nigeria Customs Service, for their continued support and collaboration.