The Nigerian Government and the United Kingdom have signed a fresh commitment to tackle drug cartels as part of efforts to stamp out serious organized crimes in the two countries.
The fresh Memorandum of Understanding was signed in Abuja, Nigeria’s Capital, between the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Crime Agency of the United Kingdom.
The Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, retired Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa signed on behalf of Nigeria while the Regional Manager, West Africa, National Crime Agency (NCA) of the United Kingdom, Mr. David Cater, signed on behalf of the UK.
According to Marwa, “this renewed MoU will definitely and inevitably propel High Intelligence Driven Operational Tentacles that will seek out the most complex organized criminal networks, no matter their hiding place to face the wrath of the Law.”
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He expressed optimism in the NCA’s upcoming project aimed at reinvigorating the Agency’s rebranded Criminal Intelligence Task Force (CITF).
“I look forward, with great optimism, to the requisite specialist capabilities this project will provide to the CITF officials to target and disrupt drug trafficking cartels in our country, the West Africa sub-region and beyond.
“Our overwhelming gratitude goes to the Government of the United Kingdom for its continued technical support to the Agency. Also worthy of appreciation is the commendable efforts of the dedicated UK NCA personnel which no doubt, has inspired the Agency’s CITF officials with deepened enthusiasm to tackle Serious Organized Crimes frontally,” Marwa said.
Marwa acknowledging that serious organized crime is a dynamic and complex phenomenon that does not recognize borders thereby posing grave threat to lives and properties in both countries.
The NDLEA boss said, “it is therefore imperative to aggressively seek proactive ways of managing intelligence and enhancing capabilities for disrupting transnational organized crime syndicates, thereby justifying the need to sustain the renewal of this memorandum of understanding which is another significant milestone in our collaborative efforts to combat organized criminal groups.”
The Regional Manager, West Africa, National Crime Agency of the United Kingdom NCA Mr. David Cater, in a remark said renewing the MoU comes with great satisfaction and significant to the good work of both NDLEA and NCA.
He said the renewed MoU will “enable us to take the battle to the enemies, that is, the cartels.”
Cater expressed appreciation to the leadership of NDLEA for the support and confidence reposed in the partnership, while assuring that the ongoing project will continue to support the Agency to succeed in its assignments.
