Drug Trafficking War : US AFRICOM meets Marwa, to partner with NDLEA

Nigeria’s battle to end drug trafficking, on Tuesday received a big boost as delegation of senior officials of the United States Africa Command, met with Buba Marwa, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, as part of collaborative efforts tackle the menace

Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, said Marwa, a retired Brigadier General, used the opportunity to commend the existing relationship between NDLEA and AFRICOM, with an assurance of enhanced collaboration and partnership in the fight against illicit drugs.

Marwa uses the opportunity to seek support for the  NDLEA especially because of the nexus between illicit drugs and terrorism.

Read also: Police arrest 65 suspects, recover weapons, drugs in Borno raids

He stated that the agency needed support in securing “scanning equipment at the airports, digital forensic tools, portable drug detection equipment, forensic laboratory equipment and sniffer dogs”,  among others.

Leader of the delegation, Philip Esch who is US Drug Enforcement Administration Liaison to AFRICOM, in his remarks said the relationship between NDLEA and US-DEA is not only a partnership but highly important to the US government.

He alao commended Marwa for providing good leadership and open to international partnerships.

The collaboration is coming on the backdrop of increased drug trafficking, with traffickers using Nigeria as a hub, despite the efforts of the country to implement harsh punishment aimed at deterring them.

The NDLEA had in recent times stepped up plans, including sensitisation of young Nigerians against the illicit drug business.

Despite destroying several kilogram of drugs and burning Indian hemp farms, trafficking continue to use the country as a hub

But the US AFRICOM team also called for a more robust engagement to help Nigeria end the menace, especially with intelligence sharing

“We appreciate all the support and the leadership you provide. Obviously, you know that the relationship between NDLEA and DEA is of utmost importance, and we appreciate the excellent relationship across US law enforcement with you and the NDLEA.

“We want that to continue and we are very happy that your tenure was renewed for another five years.

We really look forward to continued engagement”, Esch stated.

James Elseth, another member of the team, expressed excitement about supporting NDLEA because of the Agency’s tremendous work in Nigeria, which is equally contributing to the security of other countries.

According to him, “I want to thank you, General, because you have a regional mindset and an international mindset, that is showing clearly in the scope and impact of your work.

Read also: Building on the drive of global drug makers’ exit

” A lot of countries that we work with are only focused on their country. And just like DEA and FBI, we have an international mindset to try to stop organized crime from impacting our respective countries.”

He commended NDLEA for providing adequate maintenance of equipment and facilities earlier provided by the US government while assuring that two major projects were already in the works to further support the Agency in addition to trainings and others.

In his response, Marwa expressed appreciation for the visit and commended ongoing support from US-AFRICOM to NDLEA while congratulating Philip Esch for his years of meritorious service to the US government.

“We appreciate very much the ongoing support from AFRICOM. I must also say that whatever we are achieving is due to this kind of support from you and our other international partners and more importantly due to the commitment and encouragement from the renewed hope administration of President Bola Tinubu”, he stated.

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