NDLEA, US DEA Deepen Collaboration to Combat Drug Cartels and Narco-Terrorism

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (US DEA) have pledged to strengthen their partnership in a renewed effort to dismantle drug cartels and curb the financing of terrorism and other organized crimes.

This commitment was reaffirmed at a bilateral strategic counter-narcotics workshop held on Monday in Abuja, where top officials from both agencies outlined shared priorities and future areas of cooperation.

Speaking at the event, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (rtd), said the workshop was timely and strategically important, as it brings together law enforcement leaders from Nigeria and the United States to address evolving drug-related threats affecting both nations and the global community.

According to him, the goal of the engagement is to foster open, solution-oriented discussions that will produce a joint framework of priorities and a coordinated action plan to guide collaboration over the next year.

Marwa noted that the global drug trade has grown increasingly complex, stressing the strong link between illicit drug trafficking and terrorism.

He explained that proceeds from drug trafficking are often used to finance terrorist groups and violent extremist organizations, a phenomenon widely referred to as narco-terrorism.

“The proceeds from drugs sold on our streets are often used to purchase weapons that fuel instability across regions. By targeting drug networks, we are also weakening the financial backbone of terrorism,” he said.

He further observed that Nigeria’s geographic location makes it vulnerable to transnational drug trafficking networks, adding that increased enforcement pressure in Latin America is pushing some cartels to shift their operations toward Africa, with Nigeria serving as a major transit hub.

Marwa also highlighted that many illicit drugs passing through Nigeria are destined for markets in Europe, North America, and Asia, underscoring the international dimension of the challenge.

He emphasized the need for coordinated global action, noting that the workshop would help enhance intelligence sharing, strengthen operational collaboration, and build a unified response to drug-related threats.

Reaffirming NDLEA’s commitment, Marwa expressed optimism that sustained cooperation with the US DEA and support from the United States Government would yield measurable results in the fight against drug trafficking.

He also thanked the US Government for its continued support to Nigeria, noting that the outcome of the workshop is expected to establish a clear cooperation framework, with both countries aligning their efforts while executing agreed action points within their respective jurisdictions.

On her part, the DEA Country Attaché in Nigeria, Ms. Daphne Morrison, commended the NDLEA for its achievements under Marwa’s leadership, describing the agency’s recent record of seizures, arrests, and convictions as remarkable.

She described the workshop as more than a routine meeting, calling it a demonstration of a unified stance against transnational criminal organizations seeking to exploit Nigeria as a trafficking hub.

Morrison said the collaboration aims to align strategies for 2026, focusing on disrupting drug financing networks, targeting high-level traffickers, and ensuring seamless cooperation between both agencies.

She added that the partnership would prioritize intelligence sharing, joint operations, and capacity-building initiatives to strengthen NDLEA operatives in tackling modern drug trafficking challenges.

According to her, the success of the collaboration depends on shared responsibility and coordinated action, urging participants to use the platform to develop innovative and practical strategies to enhance security and protect communities in both countries.