Nigeria, South African Forge Operational Ties To Combat Drug Trafficking
The Nigeria and South Africa governments and their drug agencies, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, and their South African counterparts, the Directorate of Priority Crime Investigation popularly known as, HAWKS, have held a two-day meeting on how to combat illicit drug trafficking between Nigeria and South Africa.
The Nigeria and South Africa governments and their drug agencies, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, and their South African counterparts, the Directorate of Priority Crime Investigation popularly known as, HAWKS, have held a two-day meeting on how to combat illicit drug trafficking between Nigeria and South Africa.
Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA National Headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi, in a statement on Tuesday 25th July, 2023, explained that the NDLEA are hosting South African counterparts for two-day meeting in Abuja, to forge stronger operational ties that would herald tough times for drug syndicates operating between the two countries.
According to him, during the opening of the meeting at the NDLEA National Headquarters, in Abuja on Monday 24th July, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), represented by the Agency's Secretary, Mr. Shadrach Haruna, said the deliberation was a follow up to a virtual one held in April 2022.
He said the meeting would bridge the gap and rekindle the efforts by deepening collaboration in line with the principle of common shared responsibilities in tackling the global drug problem.
According to him, among other expected outcomes of the visit would be the need to have a collaborative Memorandum of Understanding, MOU, to combat drug trafficking and related crimes between the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) of Nigeria and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) HAWKS, of South Africa.
He disclosed that the MOU would provide a framework for enhanced information exchange, and Joint Operations and Joint Airport Interdiction; all promising dividends that would benefit our two organizations and countries greatly.
While emphasising the increasing sophistication of drug trafficking cartels, particularly the proliferation of methamphetamine laboratories and the emergence of fentanyl production facilities, which pose grave threats to the safety and well-being of citizens in both countries, Marwa said this demands swift action through the seamless exchange of intelligence and technical expertise.
“This will not only help to halt the spread of illicit production of these deadly illicit drugs but also prevent locally produced ones from being smuggled between both countries. The need for collaboration became urgent given the volume of trade and social interactions between the two countries leading to a corresponding trade in illicit drugs. Another expected outcome of this visit is the expectation of an agreed mechanism that would lead to the dislodgement and disruption of major drug trafficking syndicates operating between the two jurisdictions”, Marwa stated.
In his response, leader of the South African delegation, Lt. Gen. Senaba Mosipi stressed that the collaboration between the two countries was necessary because criminals operating in the drug trade recognise no borders, or geographical boundaries. He said to effectively combat their criminality, proactive measures within the arm of the law are imperative.
“We have the capacity to work together no matter the distance between our countries. The operational collaboration between NDLEA and HAWKS is important to combat the operations of criminal syndicates in our two countries”, the South African official stated.
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