The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has sounded a strong warning to night club operators and fun seekers nationwide over the rising trend of “drug parties”, describing the practice as a criminal act under Nigerian law.
This follows the arrest of Lagos socialite and nightclub owner, Mike Eze Nwalie Nwogu, popularly known as Pretty Mike, and his club manager, Joachin Millary, after NDLEA operatives raided a drug-themed party at Proxy Night Club, located at 7 Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, over the weekend.
In a statement issued on Monday by NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the agency said its operatives stormed the venue following credible intelligence about the event, which took place between Saturday night, October 25, and the early hours of Sunday, October 26, 2025.
“Any gathering organized for the purpose of consuming, distributing, or abusing illicit substances is an act of criminality,” the statement read.
“These so-called ‘drug parties’ contravene the explicit provisions of the NDLEA Act and will be treated as serious narcotic offences.”
NDLEA Describes Party as ‘Brazen Illegality’
Babafemi disclosed that the organisers of the Proxy Night Club party went as far as producing and distributing flyers to invite fun seekers to what he described as an “open celebration of crime.”
“In the case of the drug party at Proxy Night Club, organisers went above board and had the audacity to produce and circulate flyers inviting fun seekers to come together to commit crime. This act not only constitutes incitement but is also an affront to Nigeria’s law enforcement system,” Babafemi said.
Undercover Operation and Seizure
According to the NDLEA, intelligence-gathering began several days before the party, with undercover operatives deployed to monitor activities at the club.
“Our undercover agents conducted surveillance on the facility, made pre-purchases of illicit drugs from within the club, and for four hours — between 11 p.m. on Saturday and 3 a.m. on Sunday — observed and recorded drug transactions and open abuse of substances,” Babafemi explained.
The agency said it subsequently disrupted the event, arresting over 100 attendees, including the club owner and his manager.
During the operation, NDLEA operatives allegedly seized 384.882 kilograms of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, along with other illegal substances found in the club’s storage area.
Detention and Release of Attendees
Babafemi clarified that while all attendees were initially detained, they were later profiled, counselled, and released within hours, in line with the agency’s global best practices on handling first-time drug offenders.
However, the two principal suspects — Pretty Mike and his manager — remain in NDLEA custody pending further investigation.
“All attendees initially arrested were later profiled, addressed, counselled, and released within hours, while the two principal suspects — Pretty Mike and his manager, Joachin Millary — remain in custody following the seizure of the drugs,” Babafemi confirmed.
NDLEA Warns Nightclub Operators and the Public
The NDLEA used the incident to issue a broader warning to nightclub operators, event promoters, and social influencers, urging them to desist from activities that promote drug use or risk facing the full weight of the law.
“This creeping culture of organizing or hosting drug parties is a disturbing fad that the NDLEA will not tolerate. Any venue, individual, or group found culpable will face prosecution and possible forfeiture of property used to facilitate such crimes,” the statement said.
The agency reiterated that it remains committed to upholding Nigeria’s anti-drug laws and ensuring that the country’s entertainment and nightlife industries are not used as fronts for drug distribution and abuse.
Public Reaction
The arrest of Pretty Mike — known for his flamboyant lifestyle and controversial public appearances — has stirred widespread conversation on social media, with many Nigerians expressing shock at the scale of the NDLEA operation.
While some users have applauded the agency’s actions as a deterrent to drug-related crimes, others have called for a fair and transparent investigation to establish the facts surrounding the incident.
The NDLEA has not yet disclosed whether charges have been formally filed against Pretty Mike or his manager, but officials hinted that both men would face prosecution if found culpable.
Babafemi concluded by urging the public to report similar illegal gatherings to the NDLEA and reaffirmed the agency’s zero-tolerance stance on drug abuse and trafficking.
“Drug parties are not entertainment — they are criminal enterprises disguised as social events. The NDLEA will continue to clamp down on all such activities to protect our youths and safeguard the future of this country,” he said.
