**Nigeria's Seaports: A Hotbed of Illicit Drug Trafficking** The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has disclosed that between 2021 and 2025, a staggering 2.55 million kilograms of illicit drugs were seized at Nigeria's seaports. This massive haul is valued at a whopping N3 trillion, a figure that paints a grim picture of the scale of drug trafficking through our maritime gateways. The data, which was released by the NDLEA, reveals a mixed bag of trends. While the total seizure of illicit drugs dropped in 2022, it rebounded sharply in 2023 and 2024, with the latter recording an all-time high of 1.75 million kilograms. The Apapa Port, Tin Can Island Port, and Port Harcourt Seaport Command were among the top hotspots for drug seizures, with some ports experiencing dramatic spikes in seizures in 2024. The NDLEA's Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, attributed the agency's success to sustained, intelligence-led interdiction operations across Nigeria's seaports. He noted that traffickers are increasingly targeting seaports for bulk shipments, exploiting concealment in containerised cargo and vessel movements. However, Babafemi stressed that NDLEA operations have significantly raised the cost and risk of doing business for drug syndicates operating through Nigeria's maritime domain. The NDLEA has been working to dismantle maritime drug trafficking routes through improved intelligence gathering, risk profiling, container tracking, and stronger collaboration with sister security agencies at the ports. The agency's efforts have paid off, with the seizures translating into street values running into trillions of naira. For instance, one kilogramme of cocaine is valued at between N800 million and N1 billion, while methamphetamine sells for between N400 million and N600 million per kilogramme. As Nigeria continues to grapple with the challenges of drug trafficking, the NDLEA's efforts are a welcome development. The agency's success in disrupting maritime drug trafficking routes and seizing massive quantities of illicit drugs is a testament to its commitment to keeping our nation safe from the scourge of drugs. However, the NDLEA's work is far from over. With traffickers adapting and evolving new tactics, the agency must continue to innovate and stay one step ahead of the game. By doing so, Nigeria can reduce the flow of illicit drugs into our country and