NDLEA, UAE sign MoU to strengthen fight against trafficking
Abdullateef Fowewe
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 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.
This was made known in a statement obtained from Femi Babafemi, NDLEA’s Director, Media and Advocacy.
Speaking at the ceremony, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd.), described the agreement as “the culmination of years of steady engagement” between the two agencies.
He said the MoU would strengthen intelligence-sharing and support joint enforcement operations against drug trafficking networks operating between both countries.
Marwa disclosed that the NDLEA intercepted approximately 354.7 kilogrammes of illicit drugs destined for the UAE between 2021 and 2026.
The seizures included cocaine, cannabis, tramadol, rohypnol, ecstasy and khat.
According to him, the operations led to the arrest and prosecution of 47 suspects, underscoring the need for closer cooperation between the two countries.
“The new partnership with NDEA will build on the exchange of liaison personnel, sharing of operational information and technical cooperation already established between both agencies,” Marwa said.
He added that the UAE would provide Nigerian travellers with a comprehensive list of prohibited items to help prevent inadvertent violations of UAE drug laws.
The NDLEA chairman also highlighted the agency’s nationwide enforcement and drug-abuse prevention record between January 2021 and July 2026.
He said the agency arrested more than 91,000 suspects, including 243 alleged drug barons, and seized over 15.5 million kilogrammes of illicit drugs and precursor chemicals.
During the period, the agency secured 16,469 convictions and provided counselling, treatment and rehabilitation for more than 53,000 drug users.
Marwa further disclosed that the NDLEA’s War Against Drug Abuse advocacy campaign had reached nearly 5.9 million Nigerians through community and school-based engagements.
The 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 countries’ strong trade, travel and people-to-people ties.
He described the MoU as “a natural evolution of an already productive relationship” between the two agencies.
Both authorities expressed confidence that the agreement would lead to stronger intelligence-sharing, more successful joint operations and the dismantling of trafficking networks along the Nigeria-UAE route.
The partnership is also expected to support the shared international responsibility against organised crime championed by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
