The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Narcotics Control Bureau of India have agreed to collaborate to block the traffic of illicit drugs between Nigeria and India.
The NDLEA made this known via its official Twitter handle on Wednesday, June 14, 2023
Nigeria, India agree to block pipeline of illicit drug flow as NDLEA, NCB sign MoU pic.twitter.com/XcaHXFrTuo
— NDLEA NIGERIA (@ndlea_nigeria) June 14, 2023
The Chairman of NDLEA, Buba Marwa, who signed the MoU on behalf of the agency, said the move represented a robust partnership in efforts to exterminate incidences of drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking adding that this would impact greatly on efforts to prevent illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, precursor chemicals and related matters between the two countries.
“This bold step taken by the two agencies is an affirmation of our foresight and commitment to the task of ensuring the safety of our citizens and the global community at large.”
According to him, the MOU constitutes a fundamental step towards positioning the two countries, India and Nigeria, at the forefront of confronting and dismantling transnational drug trafficking networks.
“This is with brazen capabilities of outmanoeuvring legitimate drug law enforcement.
“With our understanding of the changing dynamics of the illicit drug problems, locally and globally, every major organisation around the world is working assiduously to curb the menace.
“They also know that working with partners greatly helps in addressing the trafficking and abuse of narcotic and psychotropic substances,” he said.
Marwa said the governments of both countries remained committed to eradicating the problem posed by illicit substances, notably synthetic opioids and Amphetamine Type Stimulants (ATS) which posed a potent threat to our citizens.
The Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria and Head of the Indian delegation, Shri Balasubramanian who signed on behalf of his country pledged to ensure the enforcement of the provisions of the MoU.
He said the negative impact of drugs on global financial and political systems was enormous, and that proceeds of drug trafficking were often directed towards terrorism financing.
The Indian High Commissioner advised that both countries should take advantage of their similar demographic advantage to address substance use problems adding that the liberal trade relations and educational advantages enjoyed by both countries had been negatively applied to further criminal drug trade.
“I urge that all hands must be on deck to ensure that merchants of death do not succeed in their evil trade.”
PIAK
