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 against drug trafficking between both countries.
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, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd.), said the agreement was the culmination of years of engagement between the two agencies and would deepen intelligence-sharing and joint enforcement operations along the Nigeria-UAE corridor.
Marwa said NDLEA had intercepted about 354.7kg of illicit drugs, including cocaine, cannabis, tramadol, Rohypnol, ecstasy and khat, concealed in consignments destined for the UAE between 2021 and 2026.
He added that 47 suspects were arrested and prosecuted in connection with the seizures.
He said the development underscored the need for closer cooperation between the two countries to disrupt trafficking networks exploiting their strong trade and travel links.
According to him, NDLEA recorded more than 91,000 arrests, including 243 suspected drug barons, between January 2021 and July 2026.
He added that the agency seized more than 15.5 million kilogrammes of illicit drugs and precursor chemicals and secured 16,469 convictions during the period.
Marwa also said more than 53,000 drug users had benefited from counselling, treatment and rehabilitation, while the agency’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaign had reached nearly 5.9 million Nigerians through community and school engagements.
He said the new agreement would build on existing cooperation between NDLEA and NDEA, including the exchange of liaison personnel, sharing of operational information and technical assistance.
Marwa added that the UAE would provide Nigerian travellers with a comprehensive list of prohibited items to help prevent inadvertent violations of its drug laws.
The Chairman of NDEA, Sheikh Zayed bin Hamad Al Nahyan, reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to working with Nigeria to disrupt trafficking networks operating along the two countries’ trade and travel routes.
He described the MoU as a natural progression of the productive relationship already established between the two agencies.
Both agencies expressed confidence that the agreement would lead to stronger intelligence-sharing, improved joint operations and greater disruption of trafficking networks operating along the Nigeria-UAE axis.
They said the partnership was also consistent with the shared international responsibility to combat illicit drug trafficking under the framework of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
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