Gov’t to Set Up Special Drug Courts (Fast-Track Justice as Arrests, Seizures Surge)
The government has said it will set up special drug courts to speed up the prosecution of people who are arrested for drug use and trafficking. This is because there has been a big rise in drug-related arrests. During a donation ceremony where pickup trucks and motorcycles were given to the Narcotics Control Commission (NCC) to help with operations across the country, Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak made the announcement. “Government knows that drug control doesn’t stop with arrests and seizures. He said, “A long-term effect needs a credible prosecution and quick justice.” Data from the Ministry of the Interior shows that NCC arrests went up from 56 in 2024 to 158 in 2025, an 182% increase. They also seized 840 kilograms of cannabis and 341 kilograms of cocaine. The minister said that the patterns of trafficking are changing. For example, 23% of new psychoactive substance interceptions are linked to travel, and 77% are linked to other substances. Targeted enforcement operations from December 2025 to January 2026 broke up drug networks and made people less likely to do drugs. The government is working with the Attorney-General’s Department to set up special narcotics courts to deal with delays in the justice system. The minister said, “These vehicles are not just symbols.” They are strategic resources that will help improve quick response and operations across the country. “These are public assets,” they said, “so they should be managed properly and only used for official duties.”
