By Seun Ibiyemi
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 strengthen intelligence-sharing and joint operations against drug trafficking along the Nigeria-UAE corridor.
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.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), described the agreement as the culmination of years of engagement between the two agencies.
He said the MoU would deepen cooperation in intelligence exchange, operational information and coordinated enforcement actions aimed at disrupting drug trafficking networks operating between Nigeria and the UAE.
Marwa disclosed that NDLEA intercepted about 354.7 kilogrammes of illicit drugs between 2021 and 2026 in consignments destined for the UAE.
According to him, the seized substances included cocaine, cannabis, tramadol, rohypnol, ecstasy and khat, with the operations leading to the arrest and prosecution of 47 suspects.
He said the development underscored the need for closer cooperation between the two countries, particularly given their strong trade, travel and people-to-people connections.
The NDLEA chairman also highlighted the agency’s broader anti-drug enforcement record between January 2021 and July 2026.
He said the agency had arrested more than 91,000 suspects during the period, including 243 alleged drug barons, while over 15.5 million kilogrammes of illicit drugs and precursor chemicals were seized.
Marwa added that the agency secured 16,469 convictions and provided counselling, treatment and rehabilitation for more than 53,000 drug users.
He further disclosed that NDLEA’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 partnership would build on existing cooperation between NDLEA and NDEA, including the exchange of liaison personnel and operational information as well as technical assistance.
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.
The initiative, he said, would complement enforcement measures by increasing public awareness and helping travellers understand items that could attract criminal sanctions in the UAE.
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In his remarks, Chairman of the NDEA, Sheikh Zayed bin Hamad Al Nahyan, reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to working closely with Nigeria to disrupt trafficking networks exploiting the extensive trade and travel links between both countries.
He described the MoU as a natural progression of an already productive relationship between the two agencies.
Both agencies expressed confidence that the agreement would lead to stronger intelligence-sharing, more coordinated operations and increased disruption of drug trafficking networks along the Nigeria-UAE axis.
The partnership is also expected to contribute to the broader international effort against illicit drug trafficking in line with the shared responsibilities promoted by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
