The United States has lauded Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for exceptional operational triumphs, notably the dismantling of four Mexican-linked clandestine methamphetamine laboratories this year.
Speaking at the NDLEA national headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, Michael Gonzales, the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), praised the agency’s proactive approach.
Gonzales revealed that Nigeria was purposely chosen for his very first foreign visit since assuming office four months ago, citing the nation’s continental leadership and the NDLEA’s impressive record.
Marking the visit, Gonzales highlighted the sophisticated tradecraft behind the recent laboratory busts, pointing to advanced intelligence gathering, cross-border coordination, and meticulous prosecution.
He emphasized that the global drug trade respects no boundaries and deeply impacts American communities, making the bilateral partnership vital.
For over four decades, the INL collaboration has fortified Nigeria through critical training, forensic analysis, and equipment donations designed to counter evolving transnational drug threats.
During the high-level meeting, NDLEA Chairman and CEO Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd.) detailed the gravity of the ongoing cartel threat.
Marwa noted that transnational criminal syndicates are attempting to establish West African manufacturing hubs—evidenced by major industrial laboratory raids in Ogun, Oyo, Enugu, and Ebonyi states—to ship synthetic drugs toward Europe, Asia, and the United States.
He stressed that by neutralizing these operations, the agency is effectively serving as forward defense for American neighborhoods.
Marwa warned that intense pressure on cartels in the Western Hemisphere is pushing trafficking networks toward Africa, seeking alternative routes amid tightening global enforcement.
Highlighting the agency’s recent milestones, Marwa reported that the NDLEA has arrested over 96,000 drug offenders, convicted more than 16,000 traffickers, and seized over 15.8 million kilograms of illicit substances over the past five years.
He credited these sweeping successes largely to enduring technical and logistical support from the United States.
Concluding the visit, Marwa urged Washington to maintain, if not increase, INL support to prevent any operational gaps that transnational cartels could exploit.
Gonzales reaffirmed America’s strong commitment to the partnership, underscoring that joint efforts between the INL and the NDLEA remain indispensable for the collective security and public health of citizens in both Nigeria and the United States.
