Nigeria And Saudi Arabia Sign Landmark Anti-Drug Pact To Strengthen Cooperation.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) of Nigeria and the General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at intensifying joint efforts to tackle drug trafficking networks operating between the two nations.
The agreement, signed yesterday in Riyadh, signals a major milestone in bilateral cooperation on narcotics control. It provides for a range of collaborative efforts, including intelligence sharing, joint training, operational logistics support, coordinated investigations, and the exchange of data on convicted drug offenders.
Chairman and Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (Retd), led the Nigerian delegation, alongside Director of Operations and General Investigation, Ahmed Sule Ningi. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Marwa described the partnership as a “long overdue” but critical step in strengthening existing relations between both countries.
“Today marks a particularly significant milestone—one that holds immense importance for our two nations. Our collective expertise will now be harnessed more effectively to combat the complexities of narcotics control,” Marwa stated.
He stressed that drug trafficking is a global menace that demands international cooperation, adding that the MoU will reinforce the longstanding relationship between the two anti-narcotics agencies.
Marwa noted that Nigeria has previously collaborated with several global partners, including the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA), and the German and French police. He highlighted Saudi Arabia as one of Nigeria’s most consistent and valuable allies in the fight against drug trafficking.
“Our cooperation with Saudi Arabia dates back nearly two decades, and in the last four years alone, the NDLEA has arrested over 57,000 drug offenders, including 65 drug barons. We’ve also seized more than 10 million kilogrammes of assorted illicit drugs,” he revealed.
He cited past joint operations that led to major drug seizures, including a 74.12kg bust of Captagon opioids at Apapa Port in Lagos in 2021—a first of its kind on the African continent. He also referenced collaborative efforts that helped dismantle transnational trafficking networks, such as the swift NDLEA response to arrests made in Jeddah in 2023.
The Director General of the GDNC, Major General Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Qarni, praised the signing of the agreement, which comes after more than three years of planning and consultations.
He lauded the NDLEA leadership for its resilience and commitment to global drug control efforts and pledged ongoing support from the Saudi government to ensure the full implementation of the MoU.
With this partnership, both Nigeria and Saudi Arabia are poised to advance their shared mission of tackling the global drug menace through enhanced coordination, capacity-building, and mutual trust.
