The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have collaborated to combat money laundering and drug related crimes.
This was the theme of discussion when the Kwara State Commander of the NDLEA, Ibrahim A. Saidu, led his management team on a courtesy visit to the Ilorin Zonal Commander of the EFCC, ACE II Michael Nzekwe in Ilorin, North-Central Nigeria.
Mr. Saidu said that the visit was to strengthen ties to help the two agencies deliver on their mandates.
“We are delighted to be here today. We have a lot to do together. The two agencies are mutually engaged in the business of securing Nigeria against fraud and I have told my officers not to be after drug related offences only, but to also be watchful and report evidence of money laundering to the EFCC,” he said.
“Not long ago, we have some of our officers trained at the EFCC Academy, Karu, Abuja. That is part of the synergy that we are talking about. We are currently building the capacity of our men on money laundering, while boosting their competence in tackling drug related offences,” Saidu explained.
The NDLEA boss used the occasion to inform his EFCC counterpart of the recently launched *War Against Drug Abuse, WADA,* by President Muhammadu Buhari and called for support of the Commission in intensifying the campaign.
He also pledged his agency’s support for the EFCC, saying his officers were prepared to offer training assistance to the Commission’s staff at the Ilorin Zonal Command on the dangers of drug abuse and drug peddling.
The Ilorin Zonal Commander of the EFCC, Mr. Michael Nzekwe noted that the two agencies have more areas of convergence in their respective statutory mandates. This, according to him, is heavier on areas of terrorism financing and money laundering.
He identified drug peddling as the main source of terrorism financing, which, according to him, is among the core areas of focus for the EFCC.
The Zonal Commander disclosed that synergy and collaboration was part of the cardinal principles of the Commission in its fight against economic and financial crimes.
He added that the Ilorin Command will leave no stone unturned towards ensuring that corruption is reduced to the barest minimum in the three States under its control.
