NDLEA Reiterates Commitment to Make Drug Trafficking Highly Risky

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Buba Marwa (Retd) has reiterated the commitment of the agency to make Nigeria a highly risky corridor to traffic in drugs and psychotropic substances.

Marwa gave the assurance yesterday during the handing over ceremony of a provisional detention facility that was equipped by the United Kingdom’s Border Force (UKBF) to the NDLEA.

The chairman, who was represented at the occasion by the Secretary of the NDLEA, Mr. Shadrach Haruna, noted that the drug war is daily receiving a boost with the recent launch of the National Drug Control Master Plan (NDCMP 2021-2025), which was funded by the European Union under the supervision of United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

He said: “The resources committed to this project clearly demonstrate the commitment of the United Kingdom to fostering international cooperation to fight the enduring problem of drug trafficking in Nigeria.”

He thanked the UK Border Force for the facility and promised that the agency would make judicious use of it.

The UK Border Force has been rendering assistance to the agency in the areas of training, mentoring, provision of detection technology and other key infrastructure.

The UKBF’s Regional Operations Manager, (West Africa), Mr. Christopher Hawksfield, who was represented by Ms. Marie Maxwell, gave assurance that the UK government would continue to partner with Nigeria in the fight against illicit drug trafficking across the globe.

Hawksfield noted that the facility would improve the efficiency of officers and men of NDLEA at the airport and the wellbeing of suspects before they are charged to court.

Facilities that were handed over to the NDLEA were a targeting office, an exhibit room, legal seat, two temporary detention facilities for male and female, computer sets as well as office equipment.

The Commander, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Command of NDLEA, Mr.Kabiru Sani Tsakuwa, thanked the UK government and management of NDLEA for their support in making the command’s work easier.

Present at the occasion were the NDLEA Director of Airport Operations, Mrs. Joyce Titus Awogbuyi; Coordinator, International Affairs, Mrs. Kennechi Nnoruka, representatives from Nigerian Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, DSS and Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria.