Marwa hails NDLEA’s strategic efforts in global counter-narcotics operations

Buba Marwa, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA , has commended the anti-nacortic agency’s participation in the just concluded North Sea and Channel Maritime Information Group meeting held in Southampton.

The NDLEA also excelled in the Maritime intelligence and operational exchange in Felixstowe, and Portsmouth, United Kingdom.

Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, in a statement, on Friday, said Marwa, while assessing Nigeria’s participation, described the invitation extended to Nigeria as sign of the organisation’s commitment to professionalism.

In his response to the report presented by Deputy Commander of Narcotics Aminu Jega who led NDLEA delegation to the conference held in the United Kingdom, Marwa expressed appreciation to the UK authorities, particularly the Home Office International Operations (HOIO) and the Border Force, for the opportunity and cooperation extended to NDLEA officers.

Read also: NDLEA seizes N1.8bn illicit drugs, arrests 104 traffickers in Edo

Marwa who was excited that Nigeria was the only African country represented at the conference, saw the development as a significant recognition of NDLEA’s growing operational capacity, professionalism, and strategic relevance in global counter-narcotics efforts.

He noted that the participation of the Agency’s officers in both the conference sessions and joint operational exercises with the UK Border Force, marks a major milestone in strengthening international collaboration against transnational organized crime.

According to him, the exposure of NDLEA officers to advanced interdiction techniques, intelligence-sharing frameworks, and real-time maritime operations will further enhance the Agency’s ability to disrupt drug trafficking networks along Nigeria’s waterways and maritime corridors.

The NDLEA boss emphasized that such international engagements are critical in building a modern, intelligence-driven enforcement institution capable of responding effectively to evolving drug trafficking trends.

He reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to deepening partnerships with global counterparts in order to safeguard Nigeria and contribute meaningfully to global drug control efforts.

Marwa assured that the Agency will continue to leverage such platforms to improve operational efficiency and achieve its mandate.

In his presentation, leader of the delegation, Aminu Jega, a Deputy Commander, noted that the primary objective of the visit was to strengthen operational cooperation, intelligence sharing, and maritime security collaboration between the NDLEA and relevant United Kingdom maritime and law enforcement authorities.

He stated that the conference was a gathering where maritime security stakeholders from several European countries and United Kingdom agencies converged to deliberate on maritime intelligence sharing, emerging maritime threats, and collaborative operational strategies.

During the program, the NDLEA team was also given a platform to present operational achievements of the Agency, a presentation, he said, generated significant interest among participants and was followed by constructive discussions and positive commendations from representatives of participating agencies.