Nigeria, Saudi Arabia forge stronger front against global drug trade

— NDLEA, GDNC Agreement Set to Bolster Joint Intelligence, Training, and Operations

In a significant step towards strengthening international collaboration against transnational drug trafficking, Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC) have signed a groundbreaking Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Riyadh.

The agreement, formalized on Monday, April 7, 2025, is designed to deepen bilateral cooperation in narcotics control, reinforcing efforts to dismantle global drug cartels that exploit the corridors between both nations. Key provisions of the MoU include intelligence sharing, joint investigations, operational logistics support, data exchange on convicts, and access to GDNC’s training academy for NDLEA operatives.

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Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), who signed the agreement on behalf of Nigeria alongside the agency’s Director of Operations and General Investigation, Ahmed Sule Ningi, described the MoU as a landmark in Nigeria-Saudi relations.

“This partnership marks a particularly significant milestone—one that has been long overdue and holds immense importance for both our nations,” Marwa said at the event. “It is more than just diplomatic engagement. It’s a strategic alignment that builds on years of cooperation and sets the stage for coordinated, effective strategies to address the complexities of drug trafficking.”

He emphasized that the growing threat of illicit drugs is a global crisis that transcends geography, ideology, and borders, calling for unity and collaboration among nations. “Whether in the East or West, North or South, drug trafficking and abuse pose a shared threat to humanity,” he noted. “We must set aside artificial differences and unite to confront this menace.”

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Marwa acknowledged Nigeria’s robust record of collaboration with other international partners, including the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), UK Border Force, the French and German Police, and reiterated that Saudi Arabia has remained one of Nigeria’s strongest allies in narcotics control.

“Our cooperation predates this MoU, spanning nearly two decades. In the last ten years alone, we have shared intelligence and executed joint enforcement operations with remarkable results,” Marwa said.

Citing operational achievements, Marwa disclosed that between 2020 and 2024, the NDLEA made 57,792 arrests, including 65 drug barons, seized over 10 million kilograms of assorted illicit drugs, and secured 10,572 convictions. Additionally, 22,047 individuals underwent treatment and rehabilitation across 33 NDLEA centres.

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He highlighted the importance of joint operations in previous successes, pointing to the arrest of 44 suspects on outbound flights to Saudi Arabia from Nigerian airports over the past 18 years, and the interception of 74.12kg of Captagon at Lagos’ Apapa Port in 2021—a seizure facilitated by Saudi intelligence.

In August 2023, the arrest of three Nigerian women in Jeddah led to a coordinated effort between the GDNC and NDLEA, resulting in the dismantling of a trafficking network within Nigeria.

While expressing appreciation for Saudi Arabia’s consistent support, Marwa urged for continued assistance in critical areas such as operational logistics and advanced training for NDLEA personnel.

In his remarks, Major General Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Qarni, Director General of the GDNC, expressed delight at the formalization of the MoU, which he said followed over three years of careful negotiation and planning. He commended Marwa and his team for their dedication, sincerity, and unwavering commitment to the fight against illicit drugs.

“We are proud to partner with Nigeria in this crucial effort,” Al-Qarni said, pledging Saudi Arabia’s full commitment to the implementation of the MoU and assuring enhanced support to NDLEA in the near future.