The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has held talks with its Pakistani counterparts, Division of Controlled Drugs Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) and Controlled Substances Section, Ministry of Narcotics Control to explore ways of collaboration to restrict channels of trafficking illicit substances between Nigeria and Pakistan.
Spokesperson of the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi said in a statement that the strategic case meeting, which brought the two countries together to discuss their responsibilities, was held under the supervision of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB).
The meeting focused on improved communication and exchange of real time intelligence using the INCB communication tools, Ion Incident Communication System (IONICS) between the NDLEA and the Pakistani anti-narcotics agencies.
“At the end of the talks, the two delegations adopted important resolutions on how to improve their cooperation and tackle the menace of illicit drug trafficking between both countries especially pharmaceutical opioids like Tramadol,” Part of the statement read.
Chairman/chief executive officer of NDLEA, Brig Gen Buba Marwa (rtd) had approved a delegation comprising director, Prosecution and Legal Services, Joseph Sunday Nbona; director, Operations and General Investigation, Gadzama Samuel Bashir; head, Data/Digital Intelligence, Directorate of Intelligence, Abdulrahman Adebowale and directorate of Seaport Operations, Aminu Danjuma Jega, who were joined by the deputy director, Investigation and Enforcement, NAFDAC, Aderemi Afolabi.
The Pakistani delegation was made up of director, DRAP, Mr Ahmad Din; additional director, DRAP, Mr Arif Muhammad; director (Anti-Narcotics Force), regional directorate, North, ANF, Mr. Ammar Ali and section officer, Controlled Substances Section, ministry of Narcotics Control, Mr Syed Saadat Ali Bokhari.
They expressed commitment to improving operational communication with the NDLEA through existing networks between both countries and by using more frequently the possibilities offered by IONICS, the INCB’s tool of real time communication.
