By Sandra Kenneth
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 to bolster intelligence-sharing and disrupt cross-border drug trafficking networks operating between both nations.
The bilateral agreement was executed in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on the sidelines of the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, according to a statement released on Saturday by NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), stated that the pact represents the culmination of years of diplomatic engagement designed to dismantle organized cartels exploiting air and maritime links between Nigeria and the UAE.
Marwa disclosed that between 2021 and 2026, the NDLEA intercepted approximately 354.7 kilograms of illicit substances—including cocaine, cannabis, tramadol, rohypnol, ecstasy, and khat—bound for the UAE, resulting in the arrest and prosecution of 47 suspects.
“The agreement will build on the exchange of liaison personnel, operational intelligence, and technical cooperation,” Marwa noted, adding that UAE authorities will also provide Nigerian travelers with a clear, updated list of prohibited items to prevent inadvertent legal violations upon arrival.
Providing an update on the agency’s domestic performance, the NDLEA boss revealed that between January 2021 and July 2026, the agency arrested over 91,000 suspects—including 243 drug barons—and seized more than 15.5 million kilograms of illicit drugs and precursor chemicals. During the same period, the agency secured 16,469 convictions and provided rehabilitation services to over 53,000 individuals.
In his remarks, NDEA Chairman Sheikh Zayed bin Hamad Al Nahyan reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to collaborative enforcement, describing the agreement as a vital milestone toward dismantling transnational trafficking operations along the Nigeria-UAE corridor.
