Felix Mbata, Lagos state
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (US-DEA) have reiterated their commitment to strengthening their partnership to counter the operations of drug cartels and disrupt their capacity to fund and fuel other organized crimes such as violent extremism and terrorism. This commitment was made at a bilateral strategic counter-narcotics workshop held at the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, 31st March 2026.
At the workshop, NDLEA Chairman Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa emphasized the urgent need to disrupt the illicit drug trade, which fuels terrorism and violent extremism. “By attacking the drug trade, we are simultaneously starving the engines of terrorism,” Marwa stated. He noted that the global drug problem continues to evolve in complexity and scale, with a well-established nexus between illicit drug trafficking and terrorism. Drug proceeds have become a major source of financing for terrorist networks and violent extremist groups around the world.
Marwa highlighted Nigeria’s strategic location as a key transit hub for illicit drugs destined for Europe, North America, and Asia. He stated that 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.
“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 emphasized. He added that the workshop is both strategic and timely, aiming to align law enforcement leadership from Nigeria and the United States on the most significant drug-related threats affecting their two countries, as well as the wider international community.
The NDLEA boss said the workshop could not have come at a more critical time because of its unique opportunity to deepen collaboration, enhance intelligence-driven operations, and build a unified front against drug cartels and 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,” Marwa stated.
Marwa expressed appreciation to the US government for its consistent support to Nigeria over the years and noted that the key output of the workshop will be a clearly defined framework for cooperation. “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,” he added.
US-DEA Country Attaché Daphne Morrison praised NDLEA’s progress under Marwa’s leadership, citing record-breaking seizures, arrests, and convictions. She emphasized the partnership’s focus on disrupting drug financial networks and targeting high-level operatives.
“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,” Morrison said.
Morrison noted that the strength of the partnership lies in shared responsibility and collective action, urging participants to build a robust strategy to protect communities and secure a safer future for Nigeria and the US. “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,” she added.
The workshop will focus on strengthening intelligence sharing, enhancing joint operations, and providing training that empowers NDLEA operatives to take on complex modern challenges. The output of the workshop will serve as the operational North Star for the coming year, with NDLEA prepared to take the lead in executing the resulting Action Plan.
Conclusively, the NDLEA and US-DEA’s joint workshop marks a significant step in the fight against narco-terrorism. By working together, they aim to disrupt trafficking networks, dismantle criminal enterprises, and safeguard societies from the devastating impact of illicit drugs. The success of this partnership will depend on the effectiveness of the actions taken by both parties, and it is expected to yield meaningful and measurable outcomes in the fight against drug trafficking and terrorism.