The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (US-DEA) have expressed commitment to strengthen existing partnership towards dismantling operations of drug cartels and decimate their capacity to fund and fuel other organized crimes such as violent extremism and terrorism.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CCEO) of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Marwa (rtd) and the Country Attaché of DEA in Nigeria, Ms. Daphne Morrison made the commitment at a bilateral strategic counter-narcotics workshop, yesterday in Abuja.
Marwa noted that the workshop is both strategic and timely because it aims to align law enforcement leadership from Nigeria and the United States on the most significant drug-related threats affecting the two countries, as well as the wider international community.
“Our shared objective is to engage in frank, solution-driven discussions that will culminate in a joint declaration of shared priorities and a coordinated action plan for the next twelve months,” Marwa stated.
He ex that the global drug problem continues to evolve in complexity and scale, and that “of particular concern is the well-established nexus between illicit drug trafficking and terrorism.
“Drug proceeds have become a major source of financing for terrorist networks and violent extremist groups around the world. This dangerous linkage, rightly described by the United States as narco-terrorism, poses a grave threat to global peace, security, and stability.”
He observed that “The proceeds from the poison sold on our streets are the same funds used to purchase the weapons that destabilize our regions.
“By attacking the drug trade, we are simultaneously starving the engines of terrorism.”
According to him, Nigeria, given its strategic geographic location, is increasingly being targeted by international drug trafficking organizations.
“Recent developments indicate that as enforcement pressure intensifies on drug cartels in Latin America particularly by the President Trump Administration, these criminal networks are shifting their focus and operations towards Africa, with Nigeria becoming a key transit hub.
“Today, a significant proportion of illicit drugs entering Nigeria are not intended for local consumption alone; rather, they are destined for onward trafficking to Europe, North America, and Asia.
“This underscores the transnational nature of the threat we face and reinforces the urgency of coordinated international action,” Marwa said.
The NDLEA boss said the workshop remains critical to deepen collaboration, enhance intelligence-driven operations, and build a unified front against drug cartels and their associated criminal networks.
He assured that “The NDLEA is fully committed to this partnership. We are excited about the prospects it holds and confident that, through sustained cooperation with the DEA and the broader support of the United States Government, we can achieve meaningful and measurable outcomes.
He also expressing appreciation to the US government for its consistent support to Nigeria over the years nothing that the “key output of this workshop will be a clearly defined framework for cooperation, in which Nigeria will take leadership in the execution of agreed action points within its jurisdiction, while the United States will ensure alignment with its respective national interests and reinforce its commitment to coordinated action against our common threats.
Nigeria DEA Country Attaché, Ms. Daphne Morrison, acknowledged the successes recorded by the NDLEA Marwa’s leadership describing it as ‘tremendous’.
“I would like to start by acknowledging the tremendous strides NDLEA has made under the leadership of Chairman Marwa. The record-breaking seizures, arrests, and convictions over the past few years are a testament to his dedication and the successes of his war against drug abuse.”
Speaking on the significance of the partnership between the two agencies, Morrison said “This workshop is not merely a meeting, it is a declaration of our unified stand against transnational criminal organizations that seek to turn Nigeria into a drug trafficking hub.
“We are here to align our efforts for 2026. Our goal is to ensure that the collaboration between the DEA and NDLEA is a seamless transition, proactive and geared toward results, disrupting drug financial networks, and taking down high-level targets.
According to her, the workshop will focus on strengthening intelligence sharing, enhancing joint operations, and providing training that empowers NDLEA operatives to take on these complex modern challenges”, she added.
The DEA Country Attaché noted that “the strength of our partnership lies in our shared responsibility and collective action.” She called on participants from both sides to use the opportunity provided by the workshop “to build a robust, actionable, and innovative strategy to protect our communities, empower our personnel, and secure a safer future for Nigeria and the United States.”
