NDLEA And India’s NCB Unite To Combat Illicit Drug Shipments To Nigeria.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has forged a strengthened partnership with India’s Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) to tackle the illicit shipment of drugs, particularly opioids like tramadol and codeine-based syrup, from India to Nigeria. The agreement, reached during a virtual meeting on Wednesday, 6 August 2025, between NDLEA Chairman Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) and NCB Director General Anurag Garg, marks a significant step in curbing the flow of dangerous substances threatening public health and security in both nations.
Brigadier General Marwa highlighted the alarming scale of the drug trafficking issue, noting that from January 2024 to June 2025, the NDLEA seized over one billion opioid pills, predominantly tramadol, and more than 14.4 million bottles of codeine syrup originating from India. He emphasised the critical need for enhanced collaboration, building on a 2023 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two agencies, to disrupt transnational drug syndicates that disregard borders and national laws. “This is why we need the support and collaboration of the Narcotics Control Bureau of India to work with us on this,” Marwa stated.
The NDLEA also sought NCB’s assistance in capacity building, requesting specialised training in areas such as drug investigation, financial analysis, cyber investigations, and dark web operations. Marwa expressed gratitude for past training provided by India and stressed the value of sharing expertise to bolster Nigeria’s anti-narcotics efforts. In response, Anurag Garg affirmed the NCB’s commitment to the partnership, acknowledging the global nature of the drug problem. He offered access to NCB’s training centre to host NDLEA officers, ensuring knowledge and intelligence sharing to combat trafficking networks effectively.
The collaboration comes amid the NDLEA’s intensified efforts to curb drug trafficking, with significant seizures reported across Nigeria’s airports, seaports, and borders. The agency’s proactive measures, supported by international partners like the United States, United Kingdom, and UNODC, have led to the arrest of over 31,675 drug offenders and the seizure of 6.3 million kilograms of illicit drugs in the past 29 months. This partnership with India’s NCB is expected to further strengthen Nigeria’s fight against the drug scourge, protecting communities and fostering safer societies.
Both agencies expressed optimism about the deepened alliance, with Garg noting, “Unless we come together, we cannot end this malady.” As Nigeria and India unite against the illicit drug trade, this collaboration signals a robust commitment to dismantling trafficking networks and safeguarding public health across borders.