Nigeria and India are set to tackle drug trafficking between both countries as they have agreed to exchange vital intelligence on the activities of drug trafficking syndicates operating vulnerable drug routes between both countries.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) spokesperson, Mr Femi Babafemi, said this was part of recommendations and agreements reached at the end of a two-day bilateral meeting held in New Delhi, India between an NDLEA delegation led by its chairman/chief executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (rtd) and its India counterpart, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) headed by its director-general, Mr. Satya Narayan Pradhan.
Also, as part of the agreement, India will also strengthen the capacity of NDLEA officers with training.
The NDLEA also said the meeting also recommended exchange of best practices in drug demand reduction and sharing of real time information on the involvement of nationals of both countries in drug trafficking as well as conducting joint operations, while agreeing to hold another bilateral meeting in Nigeria in 2023.
In his presentation at the talks, Marwa underscored the importance of the meeting to the global action against drug trafficking given the historical antecedents of both countries, the commonality of language, legal systems, population and the existing robust trade relations.
He reiterated the need for strengthened collaboration between the two agencies in the fight against illicit drug cultivation, production and trafficking.
While highlighting Nigeria’s drug use and trafficking challenges, he noted the increased national efforts to adopt a balanced approach to addressing both the drug supply and demand reduction.
He underlined the importance of international cooperation and stakeholders’ engagement, adding that Nigeria has a “National Drug Control Master Plan as the veritable tool to drug control and enforcement, which has facilitated effective co-ordination at federal and state levels and is being encouraged at the local government level.”
He expressed the hope that a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, that would define the relationship between the two agencies with reference to information sharing, assets tracing and forfeiture of assets found to be connected to, and/or proceeds, of drug trafficking would be finalised soon.
In his remarks, Pradhan welcomed the delegations of both countries to the meeting and highlighted the issues particularly the trafficking of Heroin and Amphetamine Type Stimulants (ATS) in the country.
He said drug trafficking through maritime and air routes is a challenge for both countries.
