Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC) have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to bolster cross-border cooperation in combating international drug trafficking networks. The agreement, signed during an official ceremony attended by senior officials from both nations, marks a significant step in enhancing operational intelligence sharing, joint investigations, and coordinated enforcement actions between the two countries.
NDLEA Chairman/CEO, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), described the MoU as a necessary move to transcend national boundaries in the global war on drugs. He noted that Nigeria’s partnership with Saudi Arabia has already yielded considerable results:
- 57,792 arrests made in the last four years, including 65 high-profile drug barons;
- Over 10 million kilograms of illicit substances seized;
- 10,572 convictions secured in court;
- 22,047 drug users treated and rehabilitated at 33 NDLEA centers nationwide.
Gen. Marwa emphasized that the MoU formalizes and expands on existing collaboration, ensuring that both countries can more effectively track drug trafficking syndicates that operate across continents.
GDNC Director General, Major General Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Qarni, commended the NDLEA for its proactive and results-driven approach. He praised Nigeria’s efforts in disrupting supply chains and reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s long-term commitment to the partnership, pledging continued technical, logistical, and intelligence support. The MoU is expected to enhance both countries’ abilities to intercept drug shipments, dismantle trafficking networks, and prosecute offenders through joint task forces and strategic information exchange.
The agreement comes amid a broader push by West African and Gulf nations to tighten controls on drug transit routes increasingly exploited by transnational crime syndicates moving narcotics between South America, Africa, and the Middle East. The NDLEA stated that the new pact will further solidify Nigeria’s role as a key player in the global drug enforcement architecture, and reinforce efforts to reduce both domestic drug abuse and international smuggling.
