Customs, NDLEA Set Up Joint Committee to Boost Anti-Drug Crackdown

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have agreed to establish a joint committee aimed at strengthening coordination in the fight against drug trafficking and organised crime.

The decision followed a high-level meeting between the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, and the NDLEA Chairman, Mohamed Buba Marwa, held at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.

Discussions at the meeting centred on improving operational synergy, ensuring accountability in handling seized narcotics, and tightening enforcement mechanisms between the two agencies.

Adeniyi said the growing global scrutiny on drug trafficking routes, particularly in West Africa, makes it imperative for Nigerian institutions to deepen collaboration and deliver measurable outcomes.

“I came here directly from international engagements in Europe and Asia, and at every table narcotics trafficking remained a major issue. The West African corridor is under serious watch,” he said.

He noted that Nigeria’s credibility with international partners depends not only on agreements signed abroad but also on the effectiveness of domestic enforcement systems.

“The agreements we sign abroad will only carry value when our operational credibility at home supports them. If intelligence shared with Nigeria is not pursued to interception, prosecution and destruction, our standing is weakened,” Adeniyi added.

The Customs boss acknowledged ongoing seizures and handovers of illicit drugs to the NDLEA across various commands, but stressed that enforcement must go beyond interceptions.

“Interdiction is only the first act of enforcement, not the last,” he said, pointing to gaps in post-seizure processes, including delays in prosecution updates and drug destruction.

He called for a more structured framework to ensure transparency, including joint destruction of seized narcotics, periodic reporting on case progress, and closer coordination during prosecutions.

“We have not come here to apportion blame. We have come to design the next phase of a partnership that has carried Nigeria this far and must now carry it further,” Adeniyi said.

Responding, Marwa described the concerns raised as valid, assuring that the NDLEA remains committed to improving accountability and strengthening cooperation.

“The concerns relating to post-transfer accountability, prosecution outcomes and disposal processes are valid concerns. We must move beyond ceremonial handovers to a structured and mandatory reporting framework,” he said.

He announced the formation of a joint committee to review grey areas in the existing Memorandum of Understanding between the two agencies and propose clearer operational guidelines.

According to him, the committee will also recommend necessary updates or supplementary agreements to enhance efficiency and ensure seamless collaboration.

“Today’s meeting is timely. It gives us the opportunity to discuss areas of concern frankly and strengthen our collaboration,” Marwa said.

The move is expected to reinforce Nigeria’s anti-narcotics strategy and improve coordination between key enforcement agencies at a time when transnational drug trafficking networks continue to evolve.