The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ( NDLEA) and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (US-DEA) have intensified efforts to dismantle international drug cartels, warning that illicit drug trafficking is directly fueling terrorism and violent extremism.
This formed the crux of discussions at a bilateral counter-narcotics workshop held at the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.
Chairman of the NDLEA, Mohamed Marwa, said the workshop was aimed at aligning enforcement strategies between Nigeria and the United States to tackle evolving drug-related threats.
According to him, proceeds from drug trafficking have become a major source of funding for terrorist groups globally.
“The proceeds from the poison sold on our streets are the same funds used to purchase the weapons that destabilise our regions.
“By attacking the drug trade, we are simultaneously starving the engines of terrorism,” Marwa said.
He warned that Nigeria’s strategic geographic position has made it a prime target for international drug trafficking organisations, especially as pressure mounts on cartels in Latin America.
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Marwa noted that many illicit drugs routed through Nigeria are not meant for local consumption but are destined for Europe, North America, and Asia, reinforcing the country’s role as a transit hub in the global drug trade.
He added that the workshop would produce a coordinated action plan for the next 12 months, focusing on intelligence sharing, joint operations, and dismantling transnational criminal networks.
“The NDLEA is fully committed to this partnership… this is not merely a diplomatic exercise; it is a strategic necessity,” he said.
Also speaking, the DEA Country Attaché in Nigeria, Daphne Morrison, commended the NDLEA under Marwa’s leadership, citing record-breaking seizures, arrests, and convictions.
“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,” Morrison said.
She described the workshop as a unified front against criminal organisations seeking to exploit Nigeria as a drug trafficking hub.
“This workshop is not merely a meeting—it is a declaration of our unified stand against transnational criminal organisations,” she added.
Morrison said both agencies were working towards a seamless, results-driven collaboration in 2026, targeting drug financing networks and high-level operatives.
She emphasised the need for stronger intelligence sharing, enhanced joint operations, and capacity building for NDLEA personnel to tackle increasingly complex drug trafficking networks.
The workshop, according to both parties, is expected to yield a robust framework for cooperation and a coordinated strategy to disrupt trafficking networks and safeguard communities in both countries.
