Nigeria No Longer Safe For International Drug Cartels – UNODC

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has declared that Nigeria is no longer a permissive ground for international drug cartels, given the strong message that has been sent out by the unprecedented number of arrests, seizures and convictions of drug traffickers by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in the past five years.

Its country representative in Nigeria, Mr. Cheikh Ousmane Toure, stated this in Abuja yesterday during a brief handover to NDLEA audiovisual interview rooms equipped with modern technology provided by UNODC and funded by the United States International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (US-INL).

He said, “Transnational drug trafficking remains one of the most destabilising forces of our time; it fuels corruption, funds violence, destroys communities and exploits the most vulnerable. Nigeria, at a critical sub-regional crossroads, has been both a target and a transit hub for criminal networks stretching from Latin America to Asia and across Africa.

“Under the strong and visionary leadership of Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), NDLEA has demonstrated remarkable courage and professionalism in confronting these networks.

Since his appointment in 2021, the agency has significantly strengthened enforcement, increased major seizures and expanded prevention and treatment initiatives. The result has been clear: it has sent very strong messages to transnational criminal organisations because Nigeria is no longer a permissive environment,” Toure said.

He expressed appreciation to the US government for funding the project.

Toure said, “To our partners and the United States, your investment goes far beyond bricks, cables, and cameras—it is an investment in the idea that a stronger, fairer and more transparent Nigeria is a safer Nigeria. As we formally hand over these upgraded interview rooms, we are reaffirming our shared conviction that the fight against drug trafficking and organised crime must be waged within the bounds of law, with full respect for human rights and with unwavering transparency.”

He urged that the facility be replicated in all commands and formations of the agency nationwide.

In his remarks, the chairman/chief executive officer of NDLEA, Brig-Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), expressed gratitude to the US-INL and UNODC “for believing in our mission and for walking this path with us”, while assuring them and the Nigerian public that the agency is “ready for the work ahead.”

On the significance of the donated facilities, Marwa said, “We are not just commissioning rooms; we are upgrading the integrity of our investigative process. The NDLEA is currently at an advanced stage of digital transformation and the provision of these state-of-the-art facilities brings us into the future of law enforcement. This is where technology meets the rule of law.

“The handover of these modern interview and interrogation rooms could not have come at a more pivotal time. As the NDLEA accelerates toward the full digitalisation of our operational processes, this facility ensures we remain in lockstep with our international partners. More importantly, it reinforces our commitment to transparency, our extant laws and global best practices in criminal justice,” Marwa said.