The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Australian Federal Police (AFP) have entered into a strategic partnership to dismantle transnational drug trafficking networks operating along the Nigeria-Australia corridor.
The agreement, which focuses on intelligence sharing, joint operations and coordinated investigations, was formalised on Monday through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the NDLEA national headquarters in Abuja.
NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), described the agreement as a declaration of war against international drug cartels exploiting global borders to traffic illicit substances, particularly methamphetamine and cocaine.
He expressed confidence that combining the AFP’s international reach with the NDLEA’s operational capacity would make the Nigeria-Australia drug corridor increasingly hostile and unprofitable for traffickers.
Under the agreement, both agencies will collaborate in intelligence and information exchange, joint and coordinated operations, capacity building and professional development, as well as controlled delivery of illicit consignments to facilitate investigations and arrests.
Marwa said the partnership was crucial as drug trafficking networks had become increasingly sophisticated and interconnected, with Nigerian organised crime groups developing links along the Australia-Pacific drug route.
“Nigeria is being exploited as a transit and sourcing hub, but no single country can fight this alone,” he said.
The NDLEA chairman expressed optimism that the partnership would lead to significant drug seizures, the arrest of high-value targets and successful controlled delivery operations, adding that implementation would commence immediately.
He cited recent operations, including the seizure of 184.5 kilogrammes of cocaine intended for export and the dismantling of four methamphetamine laboratories in recent months.
Marwa said some of the laboratories allegedly had Mexican nationals involved in their operations, adding that one of the operations resulted in seizures valued at more than $360 million.
He also highlighted the dismantling of a Switzerland-based drug cartel allegedly operated by a Nigerian, Simon Amadi, following more than a year of collaboration with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration and law enforcement agencies in France, Greece and Switzerland.
According to him, the NDLEA has also targeted the cartel’s assets in Nigeria as part of efforts to dismantle its criminal infrastructure.
Earlier, the head of the AFP delegation, Sandra Booth, said combating illicit drugs required a comprehensive and collective response, commending the NDLEA for combining enforcement operations with preventive interventions.
She described the agency’s international partnerships as commendable, noting that the new agreement would strengthen efforts against organised drug trafficking.
Booth warned that criminal organisations were increasingly using proceeds from drug trafficking to finance other serious offences through what she called a “crime as a service” model.
She said vulnerable young people were being recruited to deliver and transport drugs, while others were drawn into violent attacks against rival criminal groups.
According to her, the consequences of drug trafficking extended beyond addiction to family breakdown, community destabilisation, gang violence and deaths in Australia.
“Whilst Nigeria is a transit country, we are a destination country. And unfortunately for us, people will pay a lot of money for the commodity,” she said.
Booth said Australia was committed to working with Nigeria to prevent illicit drugs from reaching its territory and protect young people and other vulnerable populations.
Emphasising the need for a united front, she urged both agencies to demonstrate commitment, integrity and determination in confronting criminal networks.
“It is so absolutely necessary that we work together as a team, that we are forceful, that we are committed, that we show integrity, and we hunt as a pack. And I am very proud that we can now be part of your pack,” she said.
The ceremony was attended by the Australian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Leilani Bin-Juda; Deputy High Commissioner, Timothy Milikan; AFP delegation members Andrea Humphrys and Susan Gray; and senior NDLEA officials.
