Illicit drugs: NDLEA signs MoU with Nigerian Customs Service, assures prosecution of offenders

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nigerian Customs Service (NSC) as part of efforts to address trafficking of illicit substances and also ensure that drug peddlers are prosecuted in the country.

The endorsement by the heads of the two agencies took place at the National Headquarters of the NDLEA on Tuesday, in Abuja.

Speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd) said the essence of the collaboration is to share operational and administrative experiences with a view to adopting best practices that work.

He said the two government agencies took this step to document their working relationship in an MoU as it poses huge benefits to the country.

According to Brig. Gen Marwa, the signed document contain a number of innovations that will encourage interpersonal relationship among the rank and file as well as at the various levels of command and administration of the two organizations.

“With this united front, there can only be one assurance that the criminal elements in our society will definitely be the losers and I assure you that they will certainly lose big as we come for them to put them where they rightly belong and cripple their crime syndicates.

“While there is no doubt as to the benefits that this MoU will provide to our two services and the nation at large, it is my hope that its successful execution and implementation will provide the necessary impetus for extension to other sister law enforcement agencies (LEAs) operating at our airports, seaports and land borders. On this basis, it is imperative to drive the implementation of the MoU to ensure that its objectives and derivable are achieved.

“Therefore, on behalf of the NDLEA, I assure you of our commitment to this MoU and intend to provide all the necessary support required to drive the implementation process in order to ensure the realization of all accruable benefits. As it is usually said, together we stand and remain undefeatable,” he added.

The NDLEA boss expressed optimism that the MoU will inflict maximum loss on drug cartels bent on trafficking illicit substances at the detriment of Nigeria and Nigerians.

“These are the meetings of Commanders/Comptrollers of the various relevant formations, at the relevant directorates/departments of the national headquarters and at the highest level of policy making between the Comptroller-General of Customs and my office, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, which is expected to take place at least twice a year.The expected outcome of these series of interactions is to foster better understanding of the respective roles and mandates of our two organizations and how they complement one another in a mutually inclusive way.

“The ultimate objective is to dissolve suspicion, friction and general interagency rivalry that does not do our nation any good in terms of effectively securing the entry and exit points of our dear country. This will provide an effective defence line at our various ports of entry/exit to prevent the influx of offensive materials and substances that undermine our national security, and ensure that our national assets are not smuggled out to undermine our economic progress and stability”, the NDLEA boss stated.

Also, the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs Service, NCS, Col. Hameed Ali (Retd) commended Gen. Marwa for initiating the MoU and creating an avenue for the two agencies to synergize and fight drug abuse in the nation.

He however appealed that once suspects are arrested by Customs officials and handed over to the NDLEA, proper diligence should be done in ensuring that they are prosecuted.

“Our coming together does not send a signal only to our nation but to the international partners, that we are committed to protecting our borders from illicit drugs. We have all along been doing this, finding drugs in the borders, but thank God the sole responsibility has been removed from us, and we had some relief. What we do now is that when we arrest the suspects, we hand them over to the NDLEA, where they will be pursued, investigated, and punished severely. The coming of Marwa has given us confidence that the suspects will be handled accordingly. I want to believe that collaboration will make impact in reducing to the barest minimum the drug menace.”

He said both NDLEA and the Customs must invest in technology to fight the drug menace.

“Both of us must ensure we deploy technology as we go into this commitment, to fighting the drug menace. It is the key to success, as methods of concealment are numerous, with other illicit drugs put in pockets, shoes, and edible foods,” he added.