Nigeria’s anti-narcotics war received a boost Tuesday as the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (US-DEA) reinforced their partnership to combat drug trafficking and dismantle its links to terrorism and other organised crimes.
Director of Media and Advocacy NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, who confirmed details of the engagement stated that the renewed commitment was announced at a high-level bilateral counter-narcotics workshop held at NDLEA headquarters in Abuja.
It brought together top law enforcement officials from Nigeria and the United States to align strategies against evolving drug threats.
Chairman and chief executive of NDLEA, Mohammed Buba Marwa, described the workshop as both “strategic and timely,” stressing the urgent need for coordinated international action in the face of increasingly complex global drug networks.
He warned of the growing nexus between illicit drug trafficking and terrorism, noting that proceeds from drug trade are now a major source of funding for extremist groups.
“By attacking illicit drug trade, we are simultaneously starving the engines of terrorism,” Marwa stated, underscoring the broader security implications of narcotics enforcement.
Marwa further revealed that Nigeria’s strategic geographic position has made it a prime target for international drug cartels, particularly as enforcement pressure intensifies in Latin America. He said criminal networks are increasingly shifting operations towards Africa, with Nigeria emerging as a key transit hub for drugs destined for Europe, North America, and Asia.
He stated that the workshop would culminate in a joint declaration outlining shared priorities and a coordinated 12-month action plan, which will serve as an operational roadmap for both agencies.
“The output of this workshop will serve as our operational North Star,” he said, reaffirming NDLEA’s readiness to lead implementation efforts within Nigeria while leveraging US support for intelligence and operational alignment.
Also speaking, the DEA Country Attaché in Nigeria, Daphne Morrison, commended NDLEA’s achievements under Marwa’s leadership, citing record-breaking seizures, arrests, and convictions as evidence of the agency’s growing effectiveness.
“This workshop is not merely a meeting, it is a declaration of our unified stand against transnational criminal organisations that seek to turn Nigeria into a drug trafficking hub,” Morrison said.
