Agency Warns Club Owners and Fun Seekers: Hosting or Attending Drug-Fueled Gatherings Is a Criminal Offence Under Nigerian Law
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has issued a stern warning to nightclub owners, event organizers, and fun seekers across the country, declaring that the rising trend of “drug parties” remains an outright illegality under Nigerian law.
The agency’s warning follows a major raid conducted by NDLEA operatives at Proxy Night Club, located at 7 Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, where a drug party was held from late Saturday night into the early hours of Sunday. During the operation, more than 100 attendees were apprehended, alongside the club’s owner, Mike Nwogu, popularly known as Pretty Mike, and his manager, Joachin Millary.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the NDLEA condemned the growing culture of organizing and attending parties centered around drug consumption and distribution. The agency described the trend as a disturbing and dangerous fad that threatens the nation’s social and moral fabric.
According to the NDLEA, any gathering designed for the use, distribution, or abuse of illicit substances constitutes a serious criminal offence under the NDLEA Act. The agency emphasized that it would not tolerate such acts of defiance and warned that anyone involved, whether as an organizer, venue owner, or attendee, would face the full wrath of the law.
Referring to the recent operation, the agency disclosed that the organizers of the Proxy Night Club event went as far as producing and distributing flyers to openly promote a criminal gathering. NDLEA officials described this as “an incitement to commit crime” and “an affront to the country’s law enforcement institutions.”
NDLEA operatives, acting on credible intelligence, reportedly carried out a detailed surveillance operation on the nightclub before the raid. Undercover agents infiltrated the premises, made test purchases of illicit drugs, and gathered evidence over several hours, from 11 p.m. on Saturday until 3 a.m. on Sunday, documenting drug transactions and substance abuse within the venue.
At the end of the operation, NDLEA officers seized 384.882 kilograms of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, along with other banned substances found in the club’s storage facility. While the majority of the guests were profiled, counseled, and released shortly after their arrest in line with international best practices, the two principal suspects, Pretty Mike and his manager, Millary, remain in custody pending prosecution.
The agency also announced plans to pursue legal forfeiture of Proxy Night Club to the Federal Government, stressing that any property, hotel, or event center found to have knowingly hosted drug-related activities risks confiscation. NDLEA reiterated that it would intensify surveillance on entertainment venues nationwide to prevent similar incidents.
Highlighting the broader national implications, the agency expressed concern about Nigeria’s rising rate of drug abuse, particularly among the youth. It warned that drug parties not only worsen the drug crisis but also serve as breeding grounds for new users, threatening public health, safety, and national stability.
“The NDLEA will continue to enforce the law with precision and professionalism,” the statement read. “We urge patriotic Nigerians, parents, religious leaders, and community heads to remain vigilant and report any suspicious gatherings that may promote drug abuse or trafficking.”
The agency reaffirmed its commitment to ridding Nigeria of the scourge of drug addiction, calling on all stakeholders to partner with the NDLEA in its ongoing fight to protect the nation’s future generations.
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