The United States International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Bureau (INL) has commended the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for its recent operational successes and pledged to strengthen its support for the agency. The Country Director of INL Nigeria, Derek Tolliver, gave the commendation on Thursday during a meeting with……
The United States International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Bureau (INL) has commended the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for its recent operational successes and pledged to strengthen its support for the agency.
The Country Director of INL Nigeria, Derek Tolliver, gave the commendation on Thursday during a meeting with the NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
This was disclosed in a statement by the Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Femi Babafemi, on Thursday, August 20.
Tolliver led a delegation from the US Government Accountability Office to the meeting, where he said the US was interested in building on its existing partnership with the NDLEA.
He said the meeting was aimed at strengthening collaboration and advancing ongoing programmes between both agencies.
“The purpose of this meeting was to make the initial introductions, to let you know that I’m here. We want to continue the great work and build upon the work of our previous INL programs here,” Tolliver said.
....: Drug War Is a Generational Task, Marwa Charges NDLEA Officers
He also commended the NDLEA for what he described as significant progress under Marwa’s leadership.
“Lastly, I want to say big congratulations on all the successes over the past months with your leadership and under your leadership. It is phenomenal how much this organization has grown, the accolades that are now shown in the media. So, I do want to recognize that,” he said.
Responding, Marwa congratulated Tolliver on his appointment and expressed appreciation for the longstanding cooperation between Nigeria and the US government in the fight against illicit drugs.
The NDLEA boss specifically acknowledged the support received from the INL and other US agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), US Africa Command (AFRICOM) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Marwa said the support had contributed significantly to the agency’s operational capacity, particularly through the provision of vehicles and forensic equipment.
“I would like to state very clearly that whatever successes that we have had in this Agency, the INL is part of it. No question about it,” Marwa said.
He recalled that when he assumed office as NDLEA chairman in 2021, some of his earliest actions included deploying vehicles provided by the INL to the agency’s commands.
According to him, US support had also transformed the agency’s forensic capabilities, which previously relied on a single laboratory in Lagos.
Marwa said the INL helped modernise the Lagos laboratory and supported the establishment and equipping of additional forensic laboratories in Abuja and Enugu to improve coverage across the country.
“These forensic labs have been central to our law enforcement efforts,” he said.
He revealed that the forensic equipment provided through the partnership played a crucial role in the discovery of a precursor chemical linked to fentanyl production during the dismantling of a methamphetamine laboratory in a forest in Ogun State about two months ago.
Marwa said investigators relied on the modern forensic equipment to identify the precursor chemicals recovered from the facility.
“And we discovered one of the precursor chemicals was in fact for the production of Fentanyl, which is bad news. Nobody wants to hear that word,” he said.
The NDLEA chairman said the discovery could have been missed without the improved forensic capabilities provided through the US partnership.
“Without these modern tools, that would have gone unnoticed because it was just a small part of the precursor chemicals. That was really very important,” he said.
Marwa described the detection of the fentanyl-related chemical as a significant development, given the growing dangers associated with the synthetic opioid.
He urged the US government to provide additional assistance to the NDLEA, particularly in logistics and training, to further strengthen the agency’s capacity to combat illicit drug production and trafficking.
Tolliver, meanwhile, assured the NDLEA of continued cooperation, saying he looked forward to working with the agency and his team at the US Embassy in Abuja to advance the objectives of the partners
