TheCable

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol). 

According to a statement by the NDLEA, the MoU will enable the agency to contribute to the pool of global criminal data and access the records of 195 countries around the world.

Buba Marwa, chief executive of NDLEA, co-signed the MoU on Wednesday with Garba Baba Umar, Interpol Africa vice-president, in Abuja.

In a statement by Femi Babafemi, NDLEA’s director of media and advocacy, Marwa said the drug business is international in scope, adding that the scourge of drug abuse has continued to destroy lives, youths, families and communities.

“Drug abuse also fuels criminalities because perpetrators either consume illicit substances or use proceeds to fund their nefarious criminal activities,” the statement reads.

“As we are after the drug cartels and barons, we are not under the illusion that they won’t be after us but we are always steps ahead of them. This is why all security agencies must collaborate to fight the cartels, whether in Nigeria or anywhere in the world.

“We are, therefore, happy that the signing of this MoU allows us access to contribute and benefit from criminal data records of 195 countries globally.”

In his remarks, Umar hailed Marwa for transforming NDLEA within a short time of his assumption of office.

Umar also said the MoU will contribute significantly to the NDLEA operations.