[3][4] The NDLEA was established by the promulgation of decree no.48 of 29th, December 1989, now an act of parliament whose major target was aimed at exterminating illicit drug trafficking and consumption.

[15] For example, in July 2009 a woman about to board a KLM flight at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport was arrested by NDLEA officers and later excreted 42 wraps of cocaine, weighing 585 grams.

[16] In September 2009, the NDLEA arrested a Guinean woman en route from Brazil to Europe with 6.350 kg of pure cocaine at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos.

President George Bush said that Nigeria had made significant progress in counter narcotics and had effectively co-operated with the United States on drug-related and money laundering cases.

In late November 2005 NDLEA Chairman Bello Lafiaji was dismissed by President Olusegun Obasanjo due to allegations of corruption and replaced by Ahmadu Giade.

[21] Lafiaji’s continued anti-narcotic efforts made him a target of drug barons as was evidenced in their connivance with some third party to frame him in 2005.

[22] Lafiaji was convicted on June 21, 2010, of conspiracy and conversion of 164,300 euros seized from a drug suspect in November 2005 when he was the Chairman of the NDLEA.