Marwa harps on international cooperation against drug trafficking
The Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA), retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, has stressed the need for regional and international cooperation to successfully disconnect drug supply across the globe.
Marwa said this while speaking at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NDLEA and Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Gambia (DLEAG), on Wednesday in Banjul, Gambia.
According to a statement by NDLEA’s Director, Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi, on Wednesday in Abuja Marwa said the MOU borders on cooperation in combating illicit production.
This, he said, included tackling manufacturing and trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors which would help curb rising criminal gangs across the world.
He said that nations across the globe were daily grappling with the challenge of drug-induced crime and criminalities.
According to him, these nations must forge a common front to confront the evil twins of drug trafficking and abuse.
He expressed optimism that the collaboration between Nigeria and Gambia on drug war would ginger similar partnerships among other countries in West Africa and on the African continent.
He said the MoU was in furtherance of the affirmation and commitment entered into between the Ministers of Justice of the two countries at the 62nd session of the UN Commission on drug in Vienna, Austria.
“The commonality of English Language between us and shared colonial history, heightened by our cultural affinity and business transactions in addition to statistics on drug abuse in West Africa call for urgent need for collaboration.
“We in the NDLEA are prepared to collaborate with the sharing of intelligence, operations and any other area that will help to effectively combat illicit drug trafficking between our two countries,” he said.
Speaking earlier, the Director-General, DLEAG, Alhagie Bakary Gassama, commended the proactive leadership of Marwa and its impact on NDLEA since his assumption of office seven months ago.
Gassama emphasised the need for partnership and intelligence on drug interdiction efforts between the two agencies, saying that such efforts would benefit both countries and the African continent.
Also speaking at the event, Gambian Minister of Interior Yankuba Sonko commended the initiative between NDLEA and DLEAG.
Sonko noted that the MoU would in no small measure boost law enforcement operations against drug trafficking in Africa and promote law and order in the two countries.
Present at the well-attended ceremony were Nigeria’s Ambassador to Gambia Mohammed Manu and heads of various law enforcement and intelligence agencies in the Gambia, among others.
