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From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) of Nigeria and the General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC) of Saudi Arabia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance their operational partnership and crack down on drug trafficking networks operating between the two countries.
The agreement was formalised on Monday, 7 April 2025, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Key aspects of the MoU include intelligence sharing, access to the GDNC’s training academy for joint programmes, provision of operational logistics to NDLEA, joint investigations, and data exchange on convicts. NDLEA Chairman and CEO Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (retd), accompanied by Director of Operations and General Investigation Ahmed Sule Ningi, hailed the signing as a historic milestone. “Today marks a particularly significant milestone—one that has been long overdue and holds immense importance for both our nations,” Marwa said.
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He emphasised the deepening ties between NDLEA and GDNC, noting, “This partnership is not merely a matter of engagements but has extended to a deeper connection, as evidenced by the signing of the MoU today, which will no doubt build on our collective expertise and establish effective strategies to address the complexities of narcotics control.” Marwa underscored the global nature of the drug crisis: “Illicit drugs have become a challenge that transcends geographical and ideological divides. Addressing this crisis requires setting aside artificial differences and working together in unity.”
He credited frameworks like the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) for enabling such collaboration. Marwa also highlighted Nigeria’s partnerships with agencies like the U.S. DEA, UK’s NCA, and French and German police, while noting Saudi Arabia’s longstanding role as a key ally. “In the last four years, we have made over 57,792 arrests, including 65 drug barons, seized more than 10 million kilograms of illicit drugs, convicted 10,572 offenders, and rehabilitated 22,047 drug users across our 33 treatment centres,” he said, attributing some successes to Saudi cooperation.
Marwa cited past joint efforts, including 44 arrests at Nigerian airports involving flights to Saudi Arabia between 2007 and 2025, yielding 37.6kg of cocaine and other substances. He also recalled Saudi intelligence aiding the 2021 seizure of 74.12kg of Captagon at Apapa Port—the first such bust in Africa—and the 2023 dismantling of a trafficking network after arrests in Jeddah.
GDNC Director General Major General Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Qarni welcomed the MoU, noting it followed over three years of talks. He praised Marwa’s team for their dedication and promised Saudi Arabia’s full commitment to the agreement, with further support to NDLEA in the coming months.
