…Marwa says pact will boost joint operations, training against drug cartels
By| Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja
Nigeria and Egypt are set to deepen bilateral cooperation in the fight against illicit drug trafficking and substance abuse, with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) expressing readiness to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with its Egyptian counterpart on intelligence sharing, joint operations and capacity building.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja while receiving the Egyptian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mohammed Fouad, during a courtesy visit.
Marwa said the proposed agreement would institutionalise cooperation between both countries in tackling the growing global drug menace, noting that Nigeria and Egypt, as two leading African nations, have a shared responsibility to confront transnational drug trafficking networks.
Describing illicit drug trafficking as a global challenge, the NDLEA boss stressed that no nation is immune from the threat, making international collaboration essential in disrupting criminal syndicates operating across borders.
He said the agency already maintains strategic partnerships with several international law enforcement bodies, including the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA), UK Border Force, the French Police, the German Criminal Police, India’s Narcotics Control Bureau and other global anti-narcotics agencies.
Marwa expressed optimism that the planned MoU with Egypt would further strengthen Africa’s collective response to drug trafficking, especially as international drug cartels increasingly shift their operations to the continent.
He disclosed that NDLEA recently dismantled two methamphetamine laboratories allegedly operated by Mexican drug cartels in Nigeria, including one valued at about 362 million dollars, describing the operations as major breakthroughs in the agency’s sustained crackdown on transnational criminal organisations.
According to him, the successful operations underscore the need for stronger intelligence sharing and coordinated enforcement efforts among African countries.
Earlier, the Egyptian Ambassador, Mohammed Fouad, said his visit was aimed at exploring areas of collaboration between Egypt and Nigeria in combating illicit drug trafficking and narcotics-related crimes.
The envoy noted that as two influential African nations, Egypt and Nigeria should work together to address the drug problem from a continental perspective, adding that enhanced bilateral cooperation would strengthen ongoing efforts to protect African societies from the devastating impact of narcotics.
He also expressed Egypt’s willingness to support the NDLEA through closer institutional cooperation and exchange of expertise to improve the effectiveness of anti-drug operations in both countries.
