Agreement will tighten noose on Nigeria-UAE drug networks — Marwa

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Drug Enforcement Authority (NDEA) of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to deepen cooperation and strengthen the fight against illicit drug trafficking between the two countries.

The agreement was signed on Saturday September 26, 2026, on the sidelines of the ongoing 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), said the pact would enhance intelligence-sharing, operational coordination and joint enforcement efforts along the Nigeria-UAE drug trafficking corridor.

Marwa said the agreement was the culmination of years of engagement between the two agencies, adding that stronger collaboration had become necessary to tackle trafficking networks exploiting the strong travel, trade and people-to-people ties between Nigeria and the UAE.

According to him, 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.

He said the interceptions resulted in the arrest and prosecution of 47 suspects.

Marwa also disclosed that between January 2021 and July 2026, the NDLEA arrested more than 91,000 suspects nationwide, including 243 alleged drug barons, while over 15.5 million kilogrammes of illicit drugs and precursor chemicals were seized.

He added that the agency secured 16,469 convictions and facilitated the counselling, treatment and rehabilitation of more than 53,000 drug users during the period.

The NDLEA boss further said the agency’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaign had reached nearly 5.9 million Nigerians through community and school-based engagements.

Marwa said the new agreement would build on existing cooperation between both agencies, including the exchange of liaison personnel, operational information and technical expertise.

He 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.

Chairman of NDEA, Sheikh Zayed bin Hamad Al Nahyan, reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to working closely with Nigeria to disrupt trafficking networks operating along the corridor.

He described the MoU as a natural progression of the productive relationship between both agencies.

Both agencies expressed confidence that the agreement would strengthen intelligence-sharing, facilitate joint operations and assist in dismantling trafficking networks operating along the Nigeria-UAE axis.