Written by
Ishioma Appiah-Yeboah
Nigeria is stepping up efforts to combat drug trafficking, as the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the Nigeria Customs Service have signed a new agreement to strengthen collaboration and intelligence sharing.
The deal was sealed at a high-level meeting in Abuja, where NDLEA Chairman, Brigadier-General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), and Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, committed to a unified front against transnational organised crime.
Under the new framework, both agencies will establish secure channels for sharing actionable intelligence, deploy joint task forces at key entry points, and set up a standing committee to quickly resolve operational issues.
The partnership also emphasizes respect for each agency’s legal responsibilities, while improving coordination at seaports, airports, and land borders.
According to a statement by the Director, Media and Advocacy NDLEA Headquarters Femi Babafemi, the growing sophistication of drug trafficking networks makes collaboration like this essential to protect national security and facilitate legitimate trade.
For the NDLEA, this development is highly significant as it strengthens the agency’s operational capacity by giving it faster access to intelligence and improved support at Nigeria’s borders critical points where illicit drugs often enter the country.
However, the synergy with Customs is expected to boost interdiction efforts, reduce duplication of duties, and enhance the overall effectiveness of anti-drug operations nationwide.
The move also signals a renewed, coordinated strategy to dismantle drug networks and safeguard Nigeria’s borders.