Nigeria and Egypt have agreed to deepen collaboration in the fight against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking, with both countries working towards signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on intelligence sharing, joint operations and training.
The Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), retired Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa, disclosed this during a courtesy visit by the Egyptian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mohammed Fouad, at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
Marwa said the longstanding cordial relationship between Nigeria and Egypt provides a strong foundation for enhanced cooperation in tackling the growing global challenge of drug abuse and trafficking.
Speaking during the meeting, Ambassador Fouad said his visit was aimed at discussing joint efforts to combat illicit drug trafficking, gain a better understanding of the NDLEA’s priorities and explore how Egypt could support the agency’s work.
He stressed the need for stronger bilateral cooperation to tackle the increasing flow of illicit drugs across Africa.
“Egypt and Nigeria, as two of Africa’s leading nations, should strengthen bilateral cooperation in this area. Together, we can address the challenge of combating narcotics from a continental perspective because it is affecting societies across Africa,” he said.
Responding, Marwa described the drug problem as a global challenge that no country could tackle alone.
“No country is untouched. The drug menace is everywhere in the world, and that is why collaboration is essential,” he said.
He noted that the NDLEA already collaborates with several international law enforcement agencies, including the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the US Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) and Home Office International Operations, the French Police, the German Criminal Police and India’s Narcotics Control Bureau.
Marwa welcomed the proposed MoU, saying increasing pressure from law enforcement agencies around the world had forced drug cartels to seek alternative trafficking routes through Africa.
“We have to remain united and push them out of our continent,” he said.
The NDLEA chairman also highlighted recent successes recorded by the agency against international drug trafficking syndicates, including the dismantling of methamphetamine laboratories allegedly operated by Mexican nationals in Nigeria.
“About two months ago, we dismantled a methamphetamine laboratory worth about 362 million US dollars. The laboratory was being operated by Mexican nationals deep inside a forest in Nigeria. We also dismantled another meth lab run by other Mexicans in a different state,” he said.
Marwa expressed optimism that the planned MoU would institutionalise cooperation between Nigeria and Egypt and further strengthen efforts to combat narcotics trafficking across the continent.
