A delegation of senior officials from the United States Africa Command (US AFRICOM) has assured the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) of improved collaboration and support in the fight against illicit drugs.
The US delegation pledged on Tuesday during a courtesy visit to the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (rtd), in Abuja.
Leader of the delegation and US Drug Enforcement Administration Liaison to AFRICOM, Philip Esch, commended the existing relationship between the NDLEA and US law enforcement agencies, describing it as critical to the interests of the United States government.
Esch praised Marwa’s leadership and openness to international partnerships, noting that the collaboration between the NDLEA and the US-DEA had yielded significant results.
“We appreciate all the support and the leadership you provide. The relationship between NDLEA and DEA is of utmost importance to us, and we value the excellent cooperation across US law enforcement with you and the Agency,” he said.
He also congratulated Marwa on the renewal of his tenure for another five years, expressing optimism about sustained engagement between both countries.
Another member of the delegation, James Elseth, said the US was excited to support the NDLEA due to the agency’s impact not only on Nigeria’s security but also on global efforts to curb organised crime.
He said Marwa’s approach reflects a regional and international mindset that aligns with the operational philosophy of agencies such as the DEA and FBI.
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“A lot of countries focus only on their internal challenges, but your work clearly shows an understanding of how organised crime affects other nations,” Elseth said.
He commended NDLEA for maintaining equipment and facilities previously provided by the US government and disclosed that two major projects were already underway to further support the agency, in addition to ongoing training programmes.
Responding, Marwa thanked the delegation for the visit and acknowledged the sustained support from US AFRICOM and other international partners.
He attributed NDLEA’s recent successes to such partnerships and to the backing of the federal government under the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
“Whatever we are achieving today is largely due to the kind of support we receive from AFRICOM and other partners, as well as the commitment and encouragement from the Renewed Hope administration,” Marwa said.
The NDLEA boss urged the US delegation to deepen its support, particularly in the provision of airport scanning equipment, digital forensic tools, portable drug detection devices, forensic laboratory equipment, and sniffer dogs, citing the growing nexus between illicit drug trafficking and terrorism.
