Abuja: The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Home Office International Operations (HOIO) of the United Kingdom have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at bolstering efforts against transnational organized crime. This strategic partnership seeks to enhance the fight against the trafficking of illicit drugs and other prohibited commodities between Nigeria and the UK.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the agreement was formalized at a ceremony held at the NDLEA Headquarters in Abuja, where Mr. Ian Cunliffe, Regional Manager (West Africa) of HOIO, highlighted the productive relationship between the two organizations. Cunliffe expressed gratitude for the warm welcome and acknowledged the strong ties previously established by his predecessor, Christopher Hawksfield. He emphasized the importance of maintaining and enhancing this relationship for future operations, describing the MoU as the beginning of a new phase of collaboration.
Responding to Cunliffe’s remarks, NDLEA Chairman, retired Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa, praised the excellent partnership with HOIO and expressed confidence in continuing this relationship with Cunliffe. Marwa underscored the MoU as a reaffirmation of mutual trust, cooperation, and dedication to safeguarding the lives and futures of both nations. He noted that Nigeria, through the NDLEA, is committed to scaling up its drug control measures in alignment with the National Drug Control Master Plan.
Marwa further elaborated that the MoU provides a strategic framework for sharing personal data, intelligence, and operational insights, adhering to international conventions, national laws, and global best practices. He emphasized that stronger intelligence sharing will lead to more effective enforcement, enabling both parties to interdict criminal suspects, disrupt trafficking networks, and trace illicit financial flows with greater precision and speed.