The Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Buba Marwa has said that smuggling illicit substances through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport has become very difficult due to the increased security and anti-narcotics operations.
Marwa said the Lagos airport is one of the most surveilled airports in the world in the war against drug trafficking.
He stated this on Tuesday at the headquarters of the NDLEA in Abuja when he received a delegation of the Narcotics Control Commission led by its Director-General, Maxwell Obuba Mantey, on a study visit on the operational strategies of the agency.
Marwa said greater collaboration between Nigeria and Ghana was vital in addressing the growing menace of drug trafficking and other criminal activities in the West African region.
“We realize that when we come together to share expertise on intelligence-led operations and interdiction strategies, we are effectively shrinking the space for criminal cartels to operate in our sub-region,” he said.
The visit was not a routine study tour but part of efforts to deepen strategic cooperation between the two anti-drug agencies, he said.
Marwa said the engagement would allow both sides to share ideas on intelligence gathering, digital forensics and institutional best practices.
He added that better cooperation would strengthen efforts to break up illicit drug networks, reduce the production of psychotropic substances and address money laundering associated with narcotics trafficking.
The visit saw NDLEA and NACOC signing a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, to formalise cooperation between the two agencies.
The agreement was described by Marwa as a major step in the direction of boosting coordinated actions against drug syndicates operating in the region.
“This agreement on the fight against illicit production of psychotropic substances, their precursors and connected money laundering activities provides us with a legal and operational road map. It takes our relationship from informal consultation to a structured, aggressive and unified front against drug barons,” he said.
Mantey said the visit was meant to strengthen the existing relationship between both countries and enhance operational cooperation, in his remarks.
“This visit is not for us to start a new chapter, but to strengthen an already solid foundation, deepen trust, exchange experiences and make our collaboration even more practical and impactful,” he said.
He also noted that drug trafficking operations in the region are growing more sophisticated, requiring enhanced cross-border cooperation to tackle emerging threats effectively.
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