By Harriet Tornguvan
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have taken a major step to reinforce Nigeria’s fight against narcotics trafficking and organised crime with the constitution of a joint committee to enhance operational coordination.
The decision followed a high-level strategic meeting between the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, and the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Buba Marwa, held on Monday at the NDLEA Headquarters in Jahi, Abuja.
The meeting focused on strengthening existing collaboration, improving accountability in handling seized narcotics, and establishing a more efficient and coordinated enforcement structure between the two frontline agencies.
Speaking during the engagement, Adeniyi underscored the growing international scrutiny on narcotics trafficking, warning that Nigeria’s global reputation hinges on the effectiveness of its domestic enforcement institutions.
Fresh from official engagements in Europe and Asia, the Customs boss noted that drug trafficking remains a dominant concern among international partners, particularly with the West African corridor under close watch.
He stressed that agreements entered into by Nigeria on the global stage would only be meaningful if backed by credible local enforcement, from intelligence gathering to interception, prosecution, and eventual destruction of seized drugs.
Adeniyi acknowledged the continued success of Customs in intercepting illicit drugs, particularly through commands such as Apapa, but maintained that enforcement must go beyond seizures.
According to him, gaps in post-seizure processes including delays in destruction, lack of prosecution updates, and weak tracking of exhibits undermine the integrity of the enforcement chain.
“Interdiction is only the beginning, not the end,” he said, calling for a more transparent and accountable system that ensures all cases are followed through to logical conclusion.
To address these concerns, the Comptroller-General proposed a new framework anchored on joint destruction of narcotics where suspects are not apprehended, periodic reporting on case progress, coordinated court appearances, and the establishment of liaison channels across operational commands.
He emphasised that the initiative was not about assigning blame, but about strengthening a partnership critical to national and international security.
Responding, NDLEA Chairman Marwa described the issues raised as both valid and timely, reaffirming the agency’s commitment to transparency and professional cooperation.
He acknowledged the need to move beyond routine handovers of seized drugs to a structured reporting system that guarantees accountability from investigation to prosecution and final disposal.
Marwa announced the immediate creation of a joint committee tasked with reviewing grey areas in the existing Memorandum of Understanding between the two agencies.
The committee, he said, would recommend clearer operational procedures and, where necessary, draft a supplementary agreement to be ratified by both leaderships.
He added that the move would strengthen institutional synergy and ensure that Nigeria’s anti-drug operations meet both national expectations and international standards.
The renewed partnership is expected to significantly enhance Nigeria’s capacity to combat drug trafficking networks and reinforce its standing in global anti-narcotics efforts.
