NDLEA, UAE Anti-Narcotics Agency Sign MoU to Deepen Fight Against Drug Trafficking
Oru Leonard
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Drug Enforcement Authority (NDEA) of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to strengthen cooperation in combating drug trafficking between Nigeria and the UAE.
The agreement was signed on Saturday, September 26, 2026, on the sidelines of the ongoing 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), said the agreement was the outcome of sustained engagement between the two agencies aimed at strengthening intelligence sharing and joint enforcement operations along the Nigeria-UAE corridor.
Marwa disclosed that NDLEA intercepted about 354.7 kilogrammes of illicit drugs, including cocaine, cannabis, tramadol, rohypnol, ecstasy and khat, in consignments destined for the UAE between 2021 and 2026.
According to him, the interceptions led to the arrest and prosecution of 47 suspects, underscoring the need for closer cooperation between the two countries in tackling drug trafficking.
The NDLEA chairman also highlighted the agency’s wider enforcement record between January 2021 and July 2026, stating that more than 91,000 suspects had been arrested, including 243 alleged drug barons.,
He said the agency had also seized over 15.5 million kilogrammes of illicit drugs and precursor chemicals, secured 16,469 convictions and provided counselling, treatment and rehabilitation for more than 53,000 drug users.
Marwa added that NDLEA’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaign had reached nearly 5.9 million Nigerians through community and school-based engagements.
He said the new MoU would build on existing cooperation between the two agencies, including the exchange of liaison personnel, sharing of operational information and technical assistance.
He further disclosed that the UAE would provide Nigerian travellers with a comprehensive list of prohibited items to help prevent inadvertent violations of the country’s drug laws.
Also speaking, the Chairman of NDEA, His Excellency Sheikh Zayed bin Hamad Al Nahyan, reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to working closely with Nigeria to disrupt drug trafficking networks exploiting the extensive trade, travel and people-to-people links between both countries.
He described the MoU as a natural progression of an already productive relationship between the two agencies.
Both agencies expressed confidence that the agreement would lead to enhanced intelligence sharing, more effective joint operations and the disruption of trafficking networks operating along the Nigeria-UAE axis.
The partnership is expected to further support international efforts against illicit drug trafficking in line with the shared responsibilities promoted by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
(NDLEA Media and Advocacy NDLEA Headquarters, September 26, 2026)
