France Assures NDLEA of Continued Support in Combating Drug Trafficking

The French government has reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing collaboration with Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in the fight against drug trafficking and abuse. This assurance came during a courtesy visit on Saturday by French Police Attaché in Nigeria, Phillipe Crespo, and his delegation to the NDLEA in Abuja.

The visit followed a series of special operations training sessions held for the NDLEA’s Strike Force Unit at the NDLEA Academy in Jos, marking the third such training initiative in the past two years. Crespo praised NDLEA’s CEO, Buba Marwa, for his warm reception and consistent willingness to cooperate with both local and international partners to combat the drug trade and substance abuse in Nigeria.

Crespo highlighted the significant impact of NDLEA’s operations, not only protecting Nigerian communities but also contributing to global efforts, particularly through major drug seizures intended for Europe and other regions. He proposed formalizing this growing collaboration in the form of a memorandum of understanding in the upcoming year.

In response, Marwa expressed his gratitude for the French government’s support, recalling his 2022 visit to RAID headquarters in France, which led to the initiation of the training programs. Marwa emphasized the importance of global cooperation in addressing the vast and complex drug issue, noting that such partnerships were vital in confronting international drug cartels, which pose serious threats to public health and security.

Marwa also referenced the strengthened relationship between Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu and French President Emmanuel Macron, and the broader bilateral cooperation between the two countries, underscoring that these efforts would yield significant benefits for both nations.