The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has conducted a public auction of forfeited houses which were either acquired through proceeds of drug trafficking or used as instrumentality of committing the crime.

The exercise which took place at the Agency’s National Headquarters in Abuja had pre-qualified auctioneers, bidders, representatives of civil society organisations, the media and other government agencies in attendance.

Speaking at the occasion, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, retired Brigadier General Buba Marwa who spoke through the Agency Secretary, Shadrack Haruna, said the exercise forms part of the Agency’s strategic efforts to dismantle drug trafficking networks by depriving offenders both liberty and illicit wealth in strict compliance with legal frameworks and due process.

Marwa reaffirmed the Agency’s resolve to pursue drug offenders not only through prosecution but also by targeting all assets acquired through proceeds of crime.

According to him, this auction is part of their broader commitment to transparency and justice, saying beyond prosecuting drug offenders, they are committed to ensuring the financial incentives that drive the crimes are neutralised through legal forfeiture.

In his words, this serves as both punishment and deterrence, saying when drug traffickers know they stand to lose everything, including their ill-gotten assets, it sends a stronger message than imprisonment alone.

The auction involved forfeited eight properties across Lagos, Kano, Ondo, and Ogun, as two of the houses located in Lekki and Ikorodu areas of Lagos were stepped down from the process due to notices of appeal received after the processes had begun.

Six other properties were auctioned to pre-qualified bidders, with only two sold at over N139 million following successful bids above their reserved prices.

Others either failed to receive any bids or attracted offers below the benchmark.

Speaking at the bidding exercise, Umar Yakubu of the Centre for Transparency and Integrity Watch, commended the NDLEA for conducting a process that was open, credible, and compliant with international best practices.

Yakubu noted that the level of transparency observed was commendable and reflective of a strong institutional culture that prioritises public accountability.

He further encouraged the Agency to amplify such efforts as a public education tool to underscore the consequences of drug crimes.

In his remarks, Director, Proceeds of Crime Management in NDLEA, Jerry Iorwa Aernan noted that participating auctioneers were pre-qualified by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and had met the required integrity checks to ensure disposed assets are not returned to original owners through the back door.

He emphasised that successful bidders must pay 10 percent of their bid value within fourteen days to confirm their interest, while the full payment is expected within a stipulated timeframe.

Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, made this available in a statement  to newsmen.