The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Drug Enforcement Authority (NDEA) of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen intelligence-sharing and joint efforts to tackle drug trafficking along the Nigeria-UAE corridor.
The agreement was signed on Saturday, September 26, 2026, on the sidelines of the ongoing 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), said the pact would deepen the cooperation between both agencies and enhance coordinated action against drug trafficking networks exploiting the strong travel, trade and people-to-people links between Nigeria and the UAE.
Marwa said the agreement was the culmination of years of engagement between the two agencies, building on existing cooperation, including the exchange of liaison personnel, operational information and technical expertise.
He disclosed that between 2021 and 2026, the NDLEA intercepted about 354.7 kilogrammes of illicit drugs, including cocaine, cannabis, tramadol, rohypnol, ecstasy and khat, in consignments destined for the UAE.
According to him, the seizures resulted in the arrest and prosecution of 47 suspects, underscoring the need for stronger cooperation between the two countries to disrupt trafficking activities.
The NDLEA chairman said the agency’s wider enforcement efforts between January 2021 and July 2026 had resulted in more than 91,000 arrests, including 243 drug barons, while over 15.5 million kilogrammes of illicit drugs and precursor chemicals were seized.
He added that 16,469 convictions were secured during the period, while more than 53,000 drug users received counselling, treatment and rehabilitation.
Marwa also highlighted the reach of the agency’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, which he said had engaged nearly 5.9 million Nigerians through community and school-based advocacy programmes.
On his part , the Chairman of the NDEA, Sheikh Zayed bin Hamad Al Nahyan, reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to working closely with Nigeria to disrupt trafficking networks operating between both countries.
He described the MoU as a natural progression of the productive relationship between the two agencies.
Both agencies expressed confidence that the agreement would lead to stronger intelligence-sharing, more effective joint operations and the dismantling of drug trafficking networks along the Nigeria-UAE corridor.
As part of the new cooperation, the UAE is expected to provide Nigerian travellers with a comprehensive list of prohibited items to help prevent inadvertent violations of the country’s drug laws.