The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Drug Enforcement Authority (NDEA) of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking between Nigeria and the UAE.
The agreement was signed on Saturday, September 26, 2026, on the sidelines of the ongoing 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Speaking at the ceremony, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), said the agreement marked the culmination of years of sustained engagement between the two agencies and would strengthen intelligence-sharing and joint enforcement operations along the Nigeria-UAE corridor.
Marwa disclosed that between 2021 and 2026, the NDLEA intercepted about 354.7 kilogrammes of illicit drugs, including cocaine, cannabis, tramadol, rohypnol, ecstasy and khat, concealed in consignments destined for the UAE. He said the operations led to the arrest and prosecution of 47 suspects.
According to him, the development underscored the need for stronger collaboration between the two countries to disrupt drug trafficking networks exploiting the extensive travel, trade and people-to-people connections between Nigeria and the UAE.
The NDLEA chairman also highlighted the agency’s nationwide enforcement record between January 2021 and July 2026, saying more than 91,000 suspects had been arrested, including 243 alleged drug barons, while over 15.5 million kilogrammes of illicit drugs and precursor chemicals were seized.
He added that the agency secured 16,469 convictions during the period, while more than 53,000 drug users received counselling, treatment and rehabilitation.
Marwa further disclosed that the NDLEA’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign had reached nearly 5.9 million Nigerians through community and school-based engagements.
He said the new MoU would build on existing cooperation between the two agencies, including the exchange of liaison personnel, operational information-sharing and technical collaboration.
He also disclosed that the UAE planned to provide Nigerian travellers with a comprehensive list of prohibited items to help prevent inadvertent violations of the country’s drug laws.
Chairman of the NDEA, Sheikh Zayed bin Hamad Al Nahyan, reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to working closely with Nigeria to disrupt trafficking networks operating between both countries.
Sheikh Zayed described the agreement as a natural progression of the productive relationship already established between the two agencies.
Both agencies expressed confidence that the new framework would lead to stronger intelligence-sharing, more effective joint operations and the dismantling of trafficking networks operating along the Nigeria-UAE axis, in line with the shared international responsibility to combat illicit drugs.
