The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) have reaffirmed commitment to deepen collaboration in the fight against illicit drugs and organised crime.
According to NDLEA’s spokesperson Femi Babafemi, the commitment was made on Tuesday in Abuja when a delegation of senior US officials met with the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of agency, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd).
Held at the NDLEA Headquarters, the meeting focused on strengthening the long-standing partnership between the agency and United States law enforcement authorities, with assurances of enhanced support and cooperation.
Leader of the delegation, Mr. Philip Esch, United States Drug Enforcement Administration (US-DEA) Liaison to AFRICOM, described the relationship between NDLEA and the US-DEA as critical to the security interests of the United States and the wider international community.
Esch commended Marwa’s leadership and openness to international partnerships, noting that cooperation with the NDLEA remains a priority for US law enforcement agencies.
“We appreciate all the support and the leadership you provide. The relationship between NDLEA and DEA is of utmost importance, and we value the excellent working relationship across US law enforcement with you and the NDLEA”, he said.
Esch also congratulated Marwa on the renewal of his tenure for another five years, expressing optimism for sustained engagement and deeper collaboration.
Also speaking, another member of the delegation, Mr James Elseth, praised the NDLEA for its significant contributions to regional and global security through its operations in Nigeria.
“I want to thank you, General, because you have a regional and international mindset, which is clearly reflected in the scope and impact of your work. Many agencies focus only on their domestic environment, but like the DEA and FBI, NDLEA understands the importance of stopping organised crime before it affects other countries”, Elseth said.
He commended the agency for the effective maintenance of equipment and facilities previously provided by the US government and disclosed that two major projects were already underway to further support NDLEA, alongside continued training and capacity-building programmes.
In his response, Marwa expressed appreciation for the visit and the sustained support from AFRICOM and other international partners, describing such cooperation as vital to the agency’s successes.
“We appreciate very much the ongoing support from AFRICOM. Whatever we are achieving is largely due to this kind of support from you and our other international partners, and more importantly, the commitment and encouragement from the Renewed Hope administration of President Bola Tinubu,” Gen. Marwa said.
He urged AFRICOM to continue its support for the NDLEA, particularly in light of the growing nexus between illicit drug trafficking and terrorism.
Marwa also highlighted areas where additional assistance would be valuable, including airport scanning equipment, digital forensic tools, portable drug detection devices, forensic laboratory equipment and sniffer dogs.