The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, and the National Crime Agency of the United Kingdom have recommitted to taking battles to the doorsteps of drug cartels as part of efforts to stamp out serious organised crimes in Nigeria and the United Kingdom.

Bridget Viashiama, Assistant Director, Prosecution; Femi Babafemi, Director, Media and Advocacy; Shadrach Haruna, Agency Secretary; David Cater, Regional Manager, West Africa, National Crime Agency of United Kingdom; Chairman/CEO of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd); Mark Hamilton of NCA; Kenechi Nnoruka, Coordinator, External Affairs and Sunday Zirangey, Director, Intelligence, NDLEA after the signing of a renewed Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, between NDLEA and NCA-UK at the Agency’s Headquarters Abuja on Tuesday 4th July 2023

The fresh commitment was the highlight of remarks by the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, retired Brigadier General Buba Marwa and Regional Manager, West Africa, NCA, David Cater, at the signing of a renewed Memorandum of Understanding, MoU between the two agencies in Abuja.

Chairman/CEO of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (Retd) exchanging copies of a renewed Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, signed by him and David Cater, Regional Manager, West Africa, National Crime Agency of United Kingdom on behalf of the two agencies on operational cooperation at the NDLEA Headquarters Abuja on Tuesday 4th July 2023

According to Marwa, the renewed MoU will definitely and inevitably propel High Intelligence Driven Operational Tentacles that will seek out the most complex organised criminal networks, no matter their hiding place to face the wrath of the Law.

He expressed great expectations in the NCA’s upcoming project with the Agency’s rebranded Criminal Intelligence Task Force (CITF), stating that “I look forward, with great optimism, to the requisite specialist capabilities this project will provide to the CITF officials to target and disrupt drug trafficking cartels in our country, the West Africa sub-region and beyond.

Accordinng to him, our overwhelming gratitude goes to the Government of the United Kingdom for its continued technical support to the Agency.

In his words, also worthy of appreciation is the commendable efforts of the dedicated UK NCA personnel which no doubt, has inspired the Agency’s CITF officials with deepened enthusiasm to tackle Serious Organised Crimes frontally.”

Marwa acknowledged that serious organised crime is a dynamic and complex phenomenon that does not recognise borders thereby posing grave threat to lives and properties in both countries.

He said it is therefore imperative to aggressively seek proactive ways of managing intelligence and enhancing capabilities for disrupting transnational organised crime syndicates, thereby justifying the need to sustain the renewal of the memorandum of understanding which is another significant milestone in our collaborative efforts to combat organised criminal groups.

In his remarks at the brief ceremony, David Cater said renewing the MoU comes with great satisfaction and significant to the good work of both NDLEA and NCA.

Cater said the renewed MoU will “enable us to take the battle to the enemies, that is, the cartels.”

He expressed appreciation to the leadership of NDLEA for the support and confidence reposed in the partnership, while assuring that the ongoing project will continue to support the Agency to succeed in its assignments.

This is contained in a statement by Director, Media & Advocacy, NDLEA, Femi Babafemi.

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