The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Drug Enforcement Authority (NDEA) of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen cooperation in the fight against illicit drug trafficking between the two countries.
The agreement was signed on Saturday on the sidelines of the ongoing 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
According to a statement by NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the MoU is aimed at strengthening intelligence-sharing, operational cooperation and joint enforcement efforts along the Nigeria-UAE corridor.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), described the agreement as the culmination of years of engagement between the two agencies.
Marwa said the partnership would provide a stronger framework for tackling drug trafficking networks exploiting the extensive trade, travel and people-to-people links between Nigeria and the UAE.
He disclosed that between 2021 and 2026, the NDLEA intercepted about 354.7 kilogrammes of illicit drugs, including cocaine, cannabis, tramadol, rohypnol, ecstasy and khat, concealed in consignments destined for the UAE.
According to him, the seizures led to the arrest and prosecution of 47 suspects, highlighting the need for closer collaboration between the two countries.
Marwa also outlined the NDLEA’s nationwide enforcement record between January 2021 and July 2026, saying the agency had arrested more than 91,000 suspects, including 243 alleged drug barons.
He said the agency also seized more than 15.5 million kilogrammes of illicit drugs and precursor chemicals and secured 16,469 convictions during the period.
Beyond enforcement, Marwa said more than 53,000 drug users had received counselling, treatment and rehabilitation, while the agency’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign had reached nearly 5.9 million Nigerians through community and school-based advocacy programmes.
He said the new agreement would build on existing cooperation between the agencies, including the exchange of liaison personnel, sharing of operational intelligence and technical collaboration.
Marwa added that the UAE would provide Nigerian travellers with a comprehensive list of prohibited items to help prevent inadvertent violations of the country’s drug laws.
In his remarks, NDEA Chairman, Sheikh Zayed bin Hamad Al Nahyan, reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to working closely with Nigeria to disrupt international drug trafficking networks.
He described the MoU as a natural progression of the productive relationship already established between the two agencies.
Both agencies said the agreement would enhance intelligence-sharing, facilitate more effective joint operations and support efforts to dismantle trafficking networks operating along the Nigeria-UAE route.
They added that the partnership was consistent with the shared international responsibility promoted by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in combating illicit drug trafficking and related crimes.
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