The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (US-DEA) have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening their partnership in combating drug cartels and dismantling the financial networks that fuel organised crime, violent extremism, and terrorism.
The renewed commitment was highlighted during the opening session of a bilateral strategic counter-narcotics workshop held at the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, March 31, 2026. The event featured remarks by NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd), and the DEA Country Attaché in Nigeria, Ms. Daphne Morrison.
In his address, Marwa described the workshop as both strategic and timely, explaining that it aims to align law enforcement leadership from Nigeria and the United States on critical drug-related threats affecting both countries and the global community.
He stated that the engagement would foster frank, solution-driven discussions leading to a joint declaration of priorities and a coordinated action plan for the next 12 months.
He highlighted the increasing complexity of the global drug problem, with particular concern over the strong link between illicit drug trafficking and terrorism, adding that drug proceeds have become a major funding source for terrorist organisations and violent extremist groups worldwide.
Marwa warned that the growing nexus, often described as narco-terrorism, poses a grave threat to global peace, security, and stability, noting that funds generated from drug trafficking are frequently used to procure weapons that destabilise regions.
The NDLEA boss emphasised that the workshop presents a critical opportunity to deepen collaboration, enhance intelligence-driven operations, and build a unified front against drug trafficking networks. He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to the partnership and expressed confidence that sustained cooperation with the DEA would yield measurable outcomes.
In her remarks, DEA Country Attaché Ms. Daphne Morrison commended the NDLEA for hosting the workshop and praised the agency’s achievements under Marwa’s leadership. She described the engagement as a significant step in reinforcing bilateral cooperation, noting that both agencies would focus on intelligence sharing, joint operations, and capacity-building to dismantle drug networks and strengthen security in both countries.
