The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Drug Enforcement Authority (NDEA) of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to strengthen cooperation against drug trafficking between both countries.
According to a statement by NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the agreement was signed on Saturday on the sidelines of the ongoing 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd.), described the agreement as the culmination of years of engagement between the two agencies.
He said the partnership would deepen intelligence-sharing and joint enforcement operations along the Nigeria-UAE corridor.
Marwa disclosed that between 2021 and 2026, the NDLEA intercepted about 354.7kg of illicit drugs, including cocaine, cannabis, tramadol, rohypnol, ecstasy and khat, concealed in consignments destined for the UAE.
According to him, the seizures led to the arrest and prosecution of 47 suspects, highlighting the need for closer cooperation between the two agencies.
Marwa also outlined the NDLEA’s nationwide record between January 2021 and July 2026, saying the agency arrested more than 91,000 suspects, including 243 drug barons, seized over 15.5 million kilograms of illicit drugs and precursor chemicals, and secured 16,469 convictions.
He added that more than 53,000 drug users had received counselling, treatment and rehabilitation during the period, while the agency’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaign had reached nearly 5.9 million Nigerians through community and school engagements.
The NDLEA chairman said the new partnership would build on existing cooperation, including the exchange of liaison personnel, sharing of operational information and technical collaboration between the agencies.
He added that the UAE would provide Nigerian travellers with a comprehensive list of prohibited items to help prevent inadvertent violations.
In his remarks, NDEA Chairman, His Excellency Sheikh Zayed bin Hamad Al Nahyan, reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to working closely with Nigeria to disrupt trafficking networks exploiting the strong trade, travel and people-to-people ties between the two countries.
He described the MoU as a natural progression of the existing relationship between both agencies.
The two agencies said the agreement would strengthen intelligence-sharing, facilitate joint operations and support efforts to dismantle trafficking networks operating along the Nigeria-UAE route.
They added that the partnership was consistent with the shared global responsibility championed by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
