New Alliance Against Drug Trafficking: Saudi Arabia And NDLEA Strengthen Global Efforts

NDLEA Chairman/CEO, Mohamed Buba Marwa, emphasized the long-standing and robust bilateral ties between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, marking the MoU signing as a significant step in the fight against narcotics.

Key aspects of the agreement include: intelligence sharing between the two countries, Saudi Arabia offering NDLEA access to its training academy for joint training, providing operational logistics support, conducting joint investigations, and sharing data on convicted individuals.

Speaking in Riyadh on Monday, Marwa, who was accompanied by the Agency’s Director of Operations and General Investigation, Ahmed Sule Ningi, described the MoU as a long-awaited and crucial milestone.

He stated, “This is more than just a routine engagement. Today’s agreement symbolizes a deeper collaboration between our anti-narcotics agencies—the NDLEA and the GDNC—and marks the beginning of a stronger partnership aimed at addressing the complexities of drug control.”

Marwa highlighted the global nature of the drug crisis, noting, “Illicit drug trafficking is a threat that transcends borders and ideologies. Combating this challenge requires cooperation, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) provides a framework for such international collaboration.”

The NDLEA Chief also acknowledged the success of previous joint operations, which have led to numerous arrests and drug seizures. He pointed out that over the past 18 years, multiple drug-related arrests have been made at Nigerian airports, with a total of 37.6kg of cocaine seized in operations involving outbound flights to Saudi Arabia between November 2007 and January 2025.