NDLEA, Australian police sign pact against drug cartels

….Marwa describes agreement as declaration of war on transnational traffickers By Kingsley Omonobi ABUJA — The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Australian Federal Police (AFP) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation against transnational drug trafficking networks operating along the Nigeria-Australia route.

The agreement, signed at the NDLEA national headquarters in Abuja on Monday, November 2, 2026, formalises existing cooperation between the two agencies into a structured strategic partnership. Speaking at the ceremony, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), described the agreement as “a declaration of war against transnational drug cartels that think they can hide between continents”.

He expressed confidence that the partnership would make the Australia-Nigeria drug route hostile and unprofitable for traffickers, leveraging the AFP’s global reach and the NDLEA’s operational capacity. Under the agreement, the agencies will cooperate in four key areas: information and intelligence sharing, joint and coordinated operations, capacity building and professional development, and controlled delivery.

Marwa said the pact came at a time when drug trafficking had become increasingly transnational, organised and sophisticated, with Nigerian organised crime groups allegedly linked to the Australia-Pacific drug route, particularly in the trafficking of methamphetamine and cocaine. “Nigeria is being exploited as a transit and sourcing hub, but no single country can fight this alone,” he said.

He expressed hope that the agreement would lead to major joint seizures, arrests of high-value targets and successful controlled deliveries, adding that both agencies looked forward to its immediate implementation. Citing recent operations, the NDLEA boss disclosed that the agency had seized 184.5 kilogrammes of cocaine intended for export and dismantled four methamphetamine laboratories in recent months, where Mexican nationals were allegedly embedded.

He said one of the laboratories yielded seizures valued at more than $360 million. Marwa also cited the dismantling of a Switzerland-based cartel allegedly linked to a Nigerian, Simon Amadi, following more than a year of joint operations involving the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), as well as French, Greek and Swiss police. He said the cartel’s assets in Nigeria had also been targeted.

In her remarks, leader of the AFP delegation, Ms Sandra Booth, said tackling drug trafficking required a whole-of-society approach. She commended the NDLEA for addressing different aspects of the problem, from prevention to enforcement, and described its international partnerships as commendable. Booth said the agreement would serve as a “force multiplier” in the fight against drug trafficking.

She explained that organised crime groups increasingly used proceeds from drug trafficking to finance other serious crimes through what she described as a “crime as a service” model. According to her, young and vulnerable people are being drawn into criminal activities, including drug delivery and transportation, as well as violent attacks on rival groups.

Beyond addiction and its effects on families and communities, she said drug trafficking was contributing to violence, gang conflicts and deaths in Australia. “Whilst Nigeria is a transit country, we are a destination country. And unfortunately for us, people will pay a lot of money for the commodity,” she said. Booth said Australia was committed to working with Nigeria to prevent drug trafficking and protect its young and vulnerable population.

“It is so absolutely necessary that we work together as a team, that we are forceful, that we are committed, that we show integrity, and we hunt as a pack. And I am very proud that we can now be part of your pack,” she said. The ceremony was attended by the Australian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ms Leilani Bin-Juda; Deputy High Commissioner, Timothy Milikan; other members of the AFP delegation, Andrea Humphrys and Susan Gray; and senior NDLEA officials.