The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (US-DEA) have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation to dismantle drug cartels and cut off funding sources for terrorism and other transnational crimes.
This resolve was expressed on Tuesday at a joint strategic counter-narcotics workshop held at the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja, where both agencies outlined plans to intensify intelligence sharing, joint operations, and coordinated enforcement actions over the next year.
The Chairman of NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa, described the workshop as “strategic and timely,” noting that it aims to align enforcement leadership from Nigeria and the United States on emerging drug threats and develop a joint action plan for the next 12 months.
Marwa warned that the global illicit drug trade is increasingly intertwined with terrorism, stressing that proceeds from narcotics are now a major funding source for violent extremist groups.
“By attacking the illicit drug trade, we are simultaneously starving the engines of terrorism,” he said, adding that narco-terrorism poses a significant threat to global peace and stability.
He further noted that Nigeria’s strategic location has made it a growing target for international drug trafficking organisations, especially as enforcement pressure mounts in Latin America. According to him, many illicit drugs passing through Nigeria are destined for Europe, North America, and Asia, underscoring the transnational nature of the threat.
The NDLEA boss said the workshop provides a critical platform to strengthen collaboration, enhance intelligence-driven operations, and build a unified front against criminal networks. He emphasised that outcomes from the meeting would serve as a roadmap for coordinated actions in the coming year, with Nigeria taking a leading role in implementation.
Also speaking, DEA Country Attaché in Nigeria, Daphne Morrison, commended NDLEA’s performance under Marwa, citing record-breaking seizures, arrests, and convictions as evidence of the agency’s 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.
She noted that the partnership between both agencies would focus on disrupting drug financing networks, targeting high-level operatives, and strengthening operational capacity through training and intelligence sharing.
Morrison added that the collaboration is designed to be proactive and results-oriented, ensuring a seamless approach to tackling increasingly complex drug trafficking operations.
Both sides agreed that the success of the partnership would depend on sustained cooperation, shared responsibility, and actionable strategies aimed at safeguarding communities in Nigeria and the United States from the devastating impact of illicit drugs.
