NDLEA, NCA-UK Recommit to Taking Battle against Drug to Cartels

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Crime Agency of the United Kingdom (UK) have both recommitted to taking the battle against drug to the doorsteps of drug cartels as part of efforts to stamp out organised crimes in Nigeria and the UK.

The fresh commitment was the highlight of remarks by the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd) and the Regional Manager, West Africa, NCA, David Cater, at the signing of a renewed Memorandum of Understanding, MoU between the two agencies at the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja, yesterday.

According to Marwa, “this renewed MoU will definitely and inevitably propel High Intelligence Driven Operational Tentacles that will seek out the most complex organised criminal networks, no matter their hiding place to face the wrath of the Law.”

He expressed great expectations in the NCA’s upcoming project with the agency’s rebranded Criminal Intelligence Task Force (CITF), stating that, “I look forward, with great optimism, to the requisite specialist capabilities this project will provide to the CITF officials to target and disrupt drug trafficking cartels in our country, the West Africa sub-region and beyond.

“Our overwhelming gratitude goes to the Government of the United Kingdom for its continued technical support to the agency. Also worthy of appreciation is the commendable efforts of the dedicated UK NCA personnel which no doubt, has inspired the Agency’s CITF officials with deepened enthusiasm to tackle Serious Organised Crimes frontally.”

Marwa, while acknowledging that organised crime was a dynamic and complex phenomenon that does not recognise borders, thereby posing grave threat to lives and properties in both countries, said “It is therefore imperative to aggressively seek proactive ways of managing intelligence and enhancing capabilities for disrupting transnational organised crime syndicates, thereby justifying the need to sustain the renewal of this memorandum of understanding which is another significant milestone in our collaborative efforts to combat organised criminal groups.”

In his remarks at the brief ceremony, David Cater said renewing the MoU comes with great satisfaction and significant to the good work of both NDLEA and NCA. He said the renewed MoU would, “enable us to take the battle to the enemies, that is, the cartels.”

He expressed appreciation to the leadership of NDLEA for the support and confidence reposed in the partnership, while assuring that the ongoing project will continue to support the Agency to succeed in its assignments.