The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Nigeria (NDLEA) and the Drug Law Enforcement Agency, The Gambia (DLEAG) have announced collaborative efforts to curb illicit drug trafficking in the sub region.
The DLEAG made this statement during its bilateral visit to the NDLEA National headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.
The Chief executive of the NDLEA, Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah, said that the meeting is a follow-up of the Hurghada discussion in order to fight the drug menace within West Africa.
“Nigeria and Gambia have come a long way with such commonalities in the area of criminal justice system,” he said.
“Today, we are here to take this cooperation to the next level, noting that no country can tackle terrorism, drug trafficking, trafficking in persons, money laundering, and arms smuggling alone.
“Our discussions will be centered on Tactical Support, Money Laundering and Financial Investigation, Intelligence, Forensic and Scientific Analysis, Maritime/Sea Patrol, Drug Abuse Prevention, Treatment and Care.”
Describing the visit as a clear manifestation of the commitment of the agencies to the three drug conventions, the Director General of the DLEAG, Bakary Gassama, explained that there will be renewed energy to facilitate an improve cooperation between and among anti-narcotic agencies within the sub region.
“The Gambia in this regard has found Nigeria as a strategic partner,” he stated, “not only owing to the huge experience at the disposal of NDLEA in drug interdiction but trace to our longstanding bilateral relation which provides the Gambia with massive opportunities and benefits.
“It is our hope that our partnership with NDLEA will be one of a realistic step contributing meaningfully to the efforts geared towards tackling the world drug problem.
“This activity is in line with the spirit of the three drug conventions as well as conventions against transnational organized crime.
“All these instruments strongly advocate for state Parties to cooperate closely with one another, consistent with their respective domestic legal and administrative systems.
“The discussion will be a foundation of what will soon become a greater and model law enforcement.”
Source: The Nation newspaper of Nigeria