Building on its growing global profile and unwavering resistance to narcotics, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (US-DEA) have reaffirmed their commitment to a strategic partnership. This collaboration aims to dismantle drug cartels and strip them of the financial power used to fuel violent extremism and organized crime.
In a statement released Tuesday, March 31, by the Director of Media and Advocacy Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA and US-DEA reaffirmed their partnership during a bilateral strategic workshop in Abuja. Addressing the session at the Agency’s headquarters, NDLEA Chairman/CEO Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (Rtd) and US-DEA Country Attaché Ms. Daphne Morrison jointly pledged to dismantle global drug networks and their links to organized crime.
In his remarks, Marwa underscored the strategic and timely nature of the workshop, noting its role in aligning Nigerian and U.S. law enforcement leadership against critical drug-related threats. “Our shared objective is to engage in frank, solution-driven discussions that will produce a joint declaration of priorities and a decisive 12-month coordinated action plan,” he stated.
Highlighting the evolving complexity and scale of the global drug crisis, Marwa underscored the “well-established nexus between illicit drug trafficking and terrorism.” He noted that drug proceeds have become a primary funding source for global terrorist networks and violent extremist groups.
“This dangerous linkage, rightly described by the United States as narco-terrorism, poses a grave threat to global peace, security, and stability,” Marwa stated. “The proceeds from the poison sold on our streets are the same funds used to purchase the weapons that destabilize our regions. By attacking the drug trade, we are simultaneously starving the engines of terrorism.”
Marwa further emphasized, “Nigeria, given its strategic geographic location, is increasingly being targeted by international drug trafficking organizations. Recent developments indicate that as enforcement pressure intensifies on drug cartels in Latin America—particularly by the President Trump Administration—these criminal networks are shifting their focus and operations towards Africa, with Nigeria becoming a key transit hub.
“Today, a significant proportion of illicit drugs entering Nigeria are not intended for local consumption alone; rather, they are destined for onward trafficking to Europe, North America, and Asia. This underscores the transnational nature of the threat we face and reinforces the urgency of coordinated international action.”
The NDLEA Chairman emphasized that the workshop’s timing is critical, offering a unique platform to deepen collaboration and enhance intelligence-driven operations. By building a unified front, the agency aims to dismantle drug cartels and decisively disrupt their associated criminal networks.
“The NDLEA is fully committed to this partnership. We are excited about the prospects it holds and confident that, through sustained cooperation with the DEA and the broader support of the United States Government, we can achieve meaningful and measurable outcomes. The output of this workshop will therefore serve as our operational North Star for the coming year, with our preparedness to take the lead in the execution of the resulting Action Plan, ensuring that our local expertise and regional reach are utilized to their fullest potential.”
Marwa lauded the U.S. Government for its unwavering support, noting that the collaboration remains vital because “key output of this workshop will be a clearly defined framework for cooperation, in which Nigeria will take leadership in the execution of agreed action points within its jurisdiction, while the United States will ensure alignment with its respective national interests and reinforce its commitment to coordinated action against our common threats. This partnership is not merely symbolic—it is operational, practical, and results-oriented. In essence, we are here to synchronize our intelligence, our tactics, and our vision. As such, this is not merely a diplomatic exercise; it is a strategic necessity.”
He charged participants to engage in the sessions with a strategic mindset, fostering openness and a collective commitment to their shared responsibilities. “Let us remain focused on the lives we are saving and the security we are restoring. The success of this workshop will not be measured merely by the quality of discussions, but by the effectiveness of the actions we take afterward. Together, we can disrupt trafficking networks, dismantle criminal enterprises, and safeguard our societies from the devastating impact of illicit drugs”, he stated.
In her remarks, US-DEA Country Attaché Ms. Daphne Morrison commended the NDLEA for hosting the workshop, while acknowledging the agency’s remarkable successes under Chairman Marwa’s leadership.
She further noted: “I would like to start by acknowledging the tremendous strides NDLEA has made under the leadership of Chairman Marwa. The record-breaking seizures, arrests, and convictions over the past few years are a testament to his dedication and the successes of his war against drug abuse.”
Discussing the impact of the collaboration, Ms. Morrison emphasized the workshop’s role in strengthening global security, saying: “When I was posted here almost a year ago, one of my top priorities was to meet with Chairman Marwa to reaffirm the US DEA’s commitment to this critical partnership. This workshop is not merely a meeting—it is a declaration of our unified stand against transnational criminal organizations that seek to turn Nigeria into a drug trafficking hub.”
“We are here to align our efforts for 2026. Our goal is to ensure that the collaboration between the DEA and NDLEA is a seamless transition: proactive and geared toward results, disrupting drug financial networks, and taking down high-level targets. This workshop will allow us to focus on strengthening intelligence sharing, enhancing joint operations, and providing training that empowers NDLEA operatives to take on these complex modern challenges”, she added.
Highlighting the Agency’s progress, the US-DEA official remarked that “the strength of our partnership lies in our shared responsibility and collective action”, while calling on participants from both sides to use the opportunity provided by the workshop “to build a robust, actionable, and innovative strategy to protect our communities, empower our personnel, and secure a safer future for Nigeria and the United States.”
