NDLEA Chairman Rewards Brave Officers with Special Promotions Following Successful Drug Interception

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Buba Marwa (retd.), has recognized the courageous efforts of eight officers from the Marine Command by granting them special promotions. This recognition comes in light of their professional conduct during a recent operation that led to the arrest of a drug trafficker and the interception of boats transporting illegal drugs from Ghana to Nigeria.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The operation took place on August 23, 2024, at approximately 3 AM, following actionable intelligence regarding drug trafficking activities on the Lagos waterways. The promoted officers include 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 presented them with commendation letters during a ceremony held in Abuja on Thursday.

Marwa commended the officers for their bravery in thwarting an attempt by traffickers to smuggle 60 jumbo bags of illicit drugs into Nigeria. He stated, “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 organization that we are on the right track.”

Highlighting the officers’ resilience, Marwa noted that they successfully navigated difficult situations on the waterways to prevent drug trafficking. “In this case, we have officers who exhibited bravery and an unwavering sense of duty in the face of adversity to thwart an attempt by a criminal gang,” he added.

As part of ongoing reforms aimed at motivating NDLEA personnel, Marwa explained that the reward scheme includes bi-annual Command Awards and special promotions for deserving officers. “The eight officers I will be decorating today showed bravery and dedication to duty and are deserving of a reward,” he emphasized.

During the operation, the officers intercepted two boats and faced challenges while apprehending the second vessel. Despite violent provocation, they successfully seized 60 bags of “Ghanaian Loud,” a potent strain of cannabis weighing 2,400 kg. They also arrested a 30-year-old Ghanaian suspect named Hambo Tete and impounded the exhibit boat, which was equipped with three outboard engines.

Marwa remarked on the significance of the operation, asserting that it demonstrated the NDLEA’s effectiveness on the waterways and signaled to criminal elements that they would face consequences. “It is an affirmation that we have been successful at making the normal trafficking routes through the airport and land borders impenetrable,” he noted.

The team leader, Aaron Dick, expressed gratitude on behalf of the beneficiaries, thanking Marwa for his transformative leadership in making the NDLEA a more efficient organization. He assured that the special promotions and commendations would motivate him and his colleagues to continue striving for excellence in their duties, inspiring others within the agency to perform at their best.