Eight operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have been promoted for “intercepting illicit drugs being trafficked from Ghana to Nigeria”.

Femi Babafemi, NDLEA’s spokesperson, said in a statement on Thursday that the eight marine officers were decorated with their new ranks and handed commendation letters at a brief ceremony held at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.

“Every time we have a breakthrough, it tells the world a story about the new NDLEA we are working hard to build,” Babafemi quoted Buba Marwa, chairman of NDLEA, as saying.

“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 special promotion, and we are holding this ceremony to decorate them. This is keeping with our culture of rewarding hard work, results, and sacrifice.”

Marwa added that the reward scheme forms part of “the sweeping reforms he has implemented over the past three years to boost officers’ performance levels”.

“Under this scheme, we have instituted the bi-annual command awards and commendation as well as special promotion for deserving officers, among other measures,” the NDLEA chairman added.

“I must say that the eight officers I will be decorating shortly showed bravery and dedication to duty and are deserving of a reward.

“On the 23rd of August 2024, the special marine squad received actionable intelligence at 3 a.m.

“They immediately swung into action and intercepted a boat along Alfa Beach, in Lekki, Lagos. Another boat was equally sighted.

“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.

“The operation led to the seizure of 60 bags of Ghanaian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, weighing 2,400 kilograms.

“The officers also arrested a suspect, Hambo Tete, 30, a Ghanaian national, and impounded the exhibit boat powered by three outboard engines.

“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 on waterways because of the presence of our marine command.

“Those who have followed the development in NDLEA are aware that we now have a full-fledged marine command with well-trained divers.

“In recent months, we have been reinforcing the command with equipment and training, for which we are grateful to the UK Home Office International Operations.

“What this crop of officers did is a loud statement to trafficking organisations that NDLEA will continue to work with other security agencies and stakeholders to ensure that our waterways are not safe routes for drug traffickers, just as the airports, seaports, and land borders.”

Marwa urged the promoted officers “to sustain the momentum of our trajectory and also protect the integrity of the job”.

“That entails that we should be mindful of our actions and activities in the line of duty or off duty,” he added.

“I expect them and every officer not to rest on their oars. There is so much work to do out there, and there are dangers involved.

“As long as we conduct our operations in line with established SOPs, as these officers did, and as long as we don’t compromise our mandate, we shall always prevail, without casualty and without erring in our action.”

The officers promoted include Dick Aaron Dick, Alabi Mayowa, Gabriel Ubokikwan, Aso Daniel John, Abdul Emmanuel Sule, Nabolo Victor Sonpano, Jonah Emmanuel Sule, and Membe Timipa Gabriel.

Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, Aaron Dick, the team leader, expressed gratitude to Marwa for his transformative leadership at the agency.

He stated that the special promotion and commendation would not only motivate him and his colleagues to achieve more but also inspire other agency personnel to excel in their duties.