NDLEA, Partner Pakistani Drug Agency To Stop Illicit Drug Trafficking

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, and its counterparts in Pakistani, Division of Controlled Drugs Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) and Controlled Substances Section, Ministry of Narcotics Control have agreed on ending routes of drug flow.d illicit drug flow between both countries in a meeting held in Vienna, Austria.

The agenda of the meeting was on how to explore ways of collaboration to restrict channels of trafficking illicit substances between Nigeria and Pakistan.

The Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi, in a statement on Saturday, said the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), approved the delegation for the meeting in Vienna.

The Nigeria team comprised of Joseph Sunday Nbona,  Director, Prosecution and Legal Services, Gadzama Samuel Bashir, Director, Operations and General Investigation; Abdulrahman Adebowale.

Others were Head, Data and Digital Intelligence, Directorate of Intelligence, Aminu Danjuma Jega, Directorate of Seaport Operations, who were joined by Aderemi Afolabi,  Deputy Director, Investigation and Enforcement, NAFDAC.

The meeting was held in Vienna, Austria, on February 27.

The strategic management meeting, brought the two countries together to discuss their responsibilities and was held under the supervision of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB).

The agenda of the meeting focused on improved communication and exchange of real time intelligence, using the INCB communication tools, Ion Incident Communication System, IONICS between NDLEA and the Pakistani anti-narcotics agencies.

"At the end of the talks, the two delegations adopted important resolutions on how to improve their cooperation and tackle the menace of illicit drug trafficking between both countries especially pharmaceutical opioids like Tramadol. 

"The Pakistani delegation was composed of Mr. Ahmad Din, Director, Division of Controlled Drugs, DRAP; Mr. Arif Muhammad, Additional Director, Division of Controlled Drugs, DRAP; Mr. Ammar Ali, Director (Anti-Narcotics Force), Regional Directorate, North, ANF; and Mr. Syed Saadat Ali Bokhari, Section Officer, Controlled Substances Section, Ministry of Narcotics Control. 

"They expressed commitment to improving operational communication with the NDLEA through existing networks between both countries and by using more frequently the possibilities offered by IONICS, the INCB's tool of real time communication." The statement reads.