The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) of Nigeria and the General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in combating drug trafficking and related crimes.
Signed in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Monday, April 7, 2025, the MoU outlines several areas of collaboration including intelligence sharing, joint investigations, training and capacity-building, operational logistics support, and the exchange of data on drug-related convictions.
The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), who led the Nigerian delegation alongside the agency’s Director of Operations and General Investigation, Ahmed Ningi, described the agreement as a significant milestone in the longstanding relationship between both countries.
“Today’s agreement marks a critical step forward in deepening our mutual resolve to dismantle drug trafficking networks that operate across borders,” Marwa said. “The scope of this MoU goes beyond institutional engagements—it builds a framework for strategic cooperation, shared expertise, and coordinated action.”
Highlighting the global nature of the drug crisis, Marwa emphasized the need for cross-border collaboration. “Illicit drugs are a global menace that transcend geography, ideology, and culture. No country is immune, and no nation can combat it alone. Through this partnership, we are reinforcing the importance of global unity in addressing this shared threat,” he stated.
He acknowledged the role of international institutions, such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in fostering such alliances, and highlighted Nigeria’s active engagements with global partners including the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), UK Border Force, French Police, German Police, and others.
Marwa also detailed Nigeria’s achievements in recent years, noting that the NDLEA has made 57,792 arrests—including 65 major drug traffickers—seized over 10 million kilograms of illicit substances, secured 10,572 convictions, and treated 22,047 drug users across 33 rehabilitation centers nationwide in the last four years.
He further disclosed that longstanding collaboration with Saudi authorities has led to the interception of several drug consignments and arrests. At Nigerian airports including Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), and Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), 44 suspects were arrested in 35 separate cases linked to outbound flights to Saudi Arabia, with 37.6kg of cocaine and other illicit substances seized since 2007.
One of the most notable operations was the seizure of 74.12kg of Captagon at Apapa Port in Lagos in September 2021—Africa’s first recorded Captagon bust—made possible through intelligence provided by Saudi authorities. The partnership has also facilitated joint investigations, including the 2023 case involving three Nigerian women arrested in Jeddah, which led to the dismantling of a drug trafficking syndicate in Nigeria.
In his remarks, Major General Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Qarni, Director General of Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Narcotics Control, expressed satisfaction with the formalization of the agreement after three years of dialogue. He commended Marwa’s leadership and reaffirmed the Kingdom’s commitment to the full implementation of the MoU.
He pledged continued support to the NDLEA and expressed optimism that the strengthened partnership would significantly impact global efforts to counter the illicit drug trade.
