The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and Australian Federal Police (AFP) have signed an agreement to dismantle transnational drug trafficking networks operating along the Nigeria–Australia route.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed in Abuja, formalises existing cooperation into a structured strategic alliance.

NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, retired Brigadier-General Buba Marwa, described the agreement as a declaration of war against international drug cartels.

Speaking at the ceremony, Marwa said the partnership would make the Australia–Nigeria drug route increasingly hostile and unprofitable for traffickers.

He expressed confidence that the AFP’s global reach and NDLEA’s operational capacity would strengthen their joint efforts.

Marwa said drug trafficking had become increasingly transnational, organised and sophisticated, requiring stronger international cooperation.

He noted that Nigerian organised crime groups were increasingly linked to the Australia–Pacific drug route, particularly through methamphetamine and cocaine trafficking.

According to him, Nigeria is being exploited as a transit and sourcing hub, but no single country can fight this alone.

He expressed hope that the agreement would produce major joint seizures, arrests of high-value targets and successful controlled deliveries.

Marwa also called for immediate implementation, noting that the renewable agreement provided a framework for sustained cooperation.

He cited recent operations demonstrating the scale of the threat and the need for stronger international partnerships.

These included the seizure of 184.5 kilogrammes of cocaine intended for export and the dismantling of four methamphetamine laboratories.

He said Mexican nationals were embedded in the laboratories, with one operation yielding seizures valued at more than 360 million dollars.

Marwa also highlighted the dismantling of a Switzerland-based cartel allegedly led by Nigerian, Simon Amadi.

He said the operation followed more than a year of collaboration with the U.S Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and French, Greek and Swiss police.

According to him, the cartel’s assets in Nigeria had also been targeted.

Head of the AFP delegation, Sandra Booth, described drug trafficking as a whole-of-society problem requiring a coordinated response.

Booth commended the NDLEA for addressing the problem through prevention, enforcement and international partnerships.

She said the agreement would serve as a force multiplier in tackling what she described as an abhorrent trade.

Booth warned that organised crime groups were increasingly using drug trafficking to finance other serious offences through a crime as a service model.

Such activities, she said, involved recruiting young and vulnerable people to deliver drugs, transport illicit substances and carry out violent attacks against rivals.

Booth said the consequences extended beyond addiction, destroying families, destabilising communities and fuelling gang violence and deaths in Australia.

Whilst Nigeria is a transit country, we are a destination country. And unfortunately for us, people will pay a lot of money for the commodity, she said.

She said Australia was committed to preventing drug trafficking into the country and protecting young and vulnerable people.

Booth stressed the importance of teamwork, integrity and sustained commitment in tackling international drug networks.

The Australian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Leilani Bin-Juda, witnessed the signing alongside Deputy High Commissioner Timothy Milikan.

Other AFP delegates included Andrea Humphrys and Susan Gray, while senior NDLEA officials also attended.

The agreement identifies four priority areas of cooperation.

These are intelligence and information sharing, joint operations, capacity building and professional development, and controlled delivery.