Customs, NDLEA to review narcotics post-seizure procedures 

…Customs boss says West Africa “under serious watch” for narcotics trafficking

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have agreed on improved measures to handle narcotics trafficking and handling post-seizure.

Adewale Adeniyi, the Comptroller-General of Customs, met with Mohamed Marwa, the chairman of the NDLEA in Abuja to discuss tightening controls following a revealing meeting with foreign partners.

“I came here directly from international engagements in Europe and Asia, and at every table narcotics trafficking remained a major issue. The West African corridor is under serious watch,” Adeniyi said.

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“The agreements we sign abroad will only carry value when our operational credibility at home supports them. If intelligence shared with Nigeria is not pursued to interception, prosecution and destruction, our standing is weakened,” he added.

The Customs boss said that there needs to be stronger, sustainable methods to handling Customs seizures.

“Interdiction is only the first act of enforcement, not the last. Where narcotics are transferred but not promptly destroyed, where prosecution advances without feedback, and where exhibits are separated from originating officers, then the chain of enforcement is incomplete.”

His proposed framework includes “joint destruction of seized drugs where suspects are not arrested, periodic case status reports, coordinated court appearances and standing liaison channels at command level.”

The NDLEA Chairman assured the Customs CG that the agency was ready to cooperate.

“The concerns relating to post-transfer accountability, prosecution outcomes and disposal processes are valid concerns. We must move beyond ceremonial handovers to a structured and mandatory reporting framework under which NDLEA provides formal updates on investigations, prosecutions and final disposal of Customs-originated seizures,” he said.

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“A lot of the reported cases have had challenges meeting the requirements above. Our helpdesk team has been instrumental in helping the users navigate the registration process.

Marwa proposed the immediate establishment of a joint committee to review grey areas in the existing Memorandum of Understanding signed by both agencies under previous administrations.

According to him, the committee would recommend clearer procedures and, where necessary, draft a supplementary agreement for approval by both agencies.