By JKNewsMedia
ALARM SPREAD across Nigeria’s nightlife scene as the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) cautioned club operators and fun seekers against the rising trend of organising or attending drug parties, describing such gatherings as blatant violations of Nigerian law.
The agency issued the warning following a weekend operation in Lagos that exposed an elaborate drug party held at Proxy Night Club, located at 7 Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island.
The operation, which began late on Saturday, 25th October, and continued into the early hours of Sunday, 26th October 2025, resulted in the arrest of more than 100 attendees alongside the club’s owner, Mike Eze Nwalie Nwogu, popularly known as Pretty Mike, and his manager, Joachin Millary.
In a statement released by the NDLEA, the agency described drug parties as acts of criminality that contravene the explicit provisions of the NDLEA Act. It said gatherings organised for the purpose of consuming, distributing or abusing illicit substances would be treated as serious narcotic offences.
According to the statement, organisers of the Proxy Night Club event “went above board and had the audacity to produce and circulate flyers inviting fun seekers to come together to commit crime, an act that not only constitutes an incitement to commit crime but equally an affront to the law enforcement capabilities of the country if condoned.”
The NDLEA emphasised that Nigeria was currently grappling with a high prevalence of drug abuse, particularly among young people, and such illicit events were aggravating the situation.
“These illicit drug parties do not only fuel the drug scourge but equally serve as hubs for new recruitment into drug addiction and actively undermine our current national efforts to safeguard public health and security,” the agency stated.
The agency revealed that the operation followed a detailed intelligence-led investigation. Undercover operatives conducted surveillance on the club, made controlled purchases of illicit substances within the premises and monitored drug transactions for several hours.
“In the recent case, the NDLEA was meticulous and professional throughout the processes leading to the raid and during the operation.
“Following intelligence on the party, our undercover agents conducted surveillance on the facility, made pre-purchases of illicit drugs from within the club and for four hours between 11.00pm on Saturday and 3.00 am on Sunday during the party, our operatives observed and recorded drug transactions and abuse going on before we eventually disrupted the brazen public display of illegality and made arrests,” the agency explained.
After the operation, NDLEA officers reportedly seized a total of 384.882 kilograms of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, alongside other illicit substances discovered in the club’s store. All individuals arrested during the raid were later profiled, counselled and released within hours, in accordance with international best practices.
However, the two principal suspects—Pretty Mike and his manager, Joachin Millary—remain in NDLEA custody pending prosecution.
“All attendees initially arrested were later profiled, addressed, counselled and released within hours in custody, in line with best global practices, while the two principal suspects: Pretty Mike and his manager, Joachin Millary remain in custody following the seizure,” the statement added.
The NDLEA further announced plans to file for the forfeiture of the Proxy Night Club property to the Federal Government, as investigations confirmed that the venue was used for illicit drug activities.
“While the Agency will intensify surveillance and apply the full force of the law against perpetrators, owners of properties, hotels, and event centres found to be knowingly hosting such illegal activities risk the confiscation and forfeiture of their assets to the Federal Government,” the statement read.
According to the agency, those held in connection with the case would face prosecution, while further investigations were underway to determine the full scope of the network behind the seized drugs.
NDLEA reiterated its zero-tolerance stance against narcotics and pledged continued vigilance. The agency noted that its operatives had become more proactive in intercepting such criminal networks through intelligence-sharing, surveillance, and undercover operations across major cities.
It stated that recent operations had uncovered disturbing trends of club-based drug sales, secret substance lounges, and invitation-only events where controlled drugs were openly sold and consumed under the guise of entertainment.
“We have observed that these drug parties are evolving into coordinated criminal enterprises that attract impressionable young people. They glamorise substance abuse, trivialise crime, and endanger lives,” the agency declared.
The NDLEA warned that property owners, club managers, and promoters who turn a blind eye to illegal drug activities within their facilities would be held accountable.
“No club or event centre is exempt from the law. If you host or enable drug parties, your property risks being seized and forfeited,” it stated.
The agency urged parents, religious leaders, and community influencers to take active roles in combating drug abuse and reporting suspicious gatherings or drug-related activities.
“We call on all patriotic Nigerians, parents, religious and community leaders, as well as concerned citizens to be vigilant, report such activities, and partner with the NDLEA in combating this threat to national well-being,” the statement urged.
NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, who signed the statement from the agency’s headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, 28th October 2025, reaffirmed the commitment of the agency under the leadership of its Chairman and Chief Executive to sustaining nationwide operations aimed at dismantling drug networks and reducing supply and demand.
He stressed that Nigeria’s anti-narcotics framework would continue to evolve to confront emerging challenges within urban leisure scenes, noting that NDLEA operatives were being strategically deployed to nightlife hotspots, airports, and private estates to counter the growing sophistication of illicit drug trade and usage.
The agency’s position aligns with its recent nationwide enforcement drive, which has led to several high-profile raids, seizures, and prosecutions.
Over the past year, NDLEA said it has intensified its focus on preventive education, counselling, rehabilitation, and the promotion of drug-free lifestyles, working with schools, media organisations, and community groups to raise awareness.
It also notes that by reinforcing its message through arrests and prosecutions, it intends to send a clear signal that the law will take its full course against any individual or establishment that promotes or profits from substance abuse.
The agency also maintained that the campaign against drug abuse requires collective effort, stressing that drug parties, if left unchecked, could erode public morality and compromise the safety of Nigerian youths.
Its statement concluded that the agency would continue to pursue its mandate vigorously, using lawful means to protect national health and public safety.
