• Marwa
• NDLEA
• US Consul

NDLEA BOSS COMMENDS US GOVERNMENT SUPPORT IN FIGHT AGAINST DRUG TRAFFICKING

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  Nicolas Adekeye / 3 months
• 0
• 2 min read

Chairman and Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), has commended the United States government for its support in the fight against drug trafficking in Nigeria. Marwa made the remarks at the commissioning of a central exhibit office donated by the US government to the NDLEA in Ikoyi, Lagos. According to Marwa, the continued collaboration with the US has bolstered and enhanced the NDLEA’s operational capabilities. “Today, I am particularly pleased to acknowledge one of such gestures, namely the donation of the office for our central exhibit custodians,” he said. “This donation acknowledges the critical need for efficient and secure handling of evidence, which is essential for the successful prosecution of drug-related cases.” Marwa noted that despite the agency’s improved performance, the war against drug trafficking and abuse is far from over. He highlighted the agency’s achievements in 2024, including the seizure of over 2.6 million kilograms of illicit drugs, the arrest of over 18,500 drug trafficking offenders, and the conviction of over 3,250 offenders, including 10 drug barons. The US acting Consul General, Ms. Jo Ellen Georg, emphasized the significance of the support provided by the US government to the NDLEA. “The efforts to fight drug trafficking in Nigeria and across West Africa region have successes because we share the same objective of countering crime, illegal drugs, and instability,” she said. Georg highlighted the US government’s investment of half a million dollars to modernize and equip the chemical forensic laboratory at the NDLEA zonal office in Lagos. She also noted that the joint efforts between the US and Nigeria have helped to build the capacity of the Nigerian authorities to disrupt drug trafficking networks and conduct advanced forensic analysis of synthetic drugs. Marwa thanked the US government for its support and expressed his commitment to accountability, transparency, and the effective utilization of resources. “Our shared goal remains the protection of lives and the promotion of a safer, healthier world,” he said.