The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime says Nigeria is no longer a permissive ground for international drug cartels, citing unprecedented arrests, seizures, and convictions recorded under the current leadership of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency. UNODC Country Representative in Nigeria, Mr. Cheikh Ousmane Toure, made the declaration in Abuja on Monday, 27 April 2026, during the handover of audiovisual interview rooms equipped with modern technology to the NDLEA. The facility was provided by UNODC and funded by the United States International Narcotics and Law Enforcement.
Toure noted that transnational drug trafficking fuels corruption, funds violence, and destroys communities, with Nigeria long serving as a target and transit hub for networks stretching from Latin America to Asia. He commended NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) for “remarkable courage and professionalism,” stating that since 2021 the Agency has strengthened enforcement, increased major seizures, and expanded prevention and treatment initiatives. “The result has been clear: it has sent very strong messages to transnational criminal organizations because Nigeria is no longer a permissive environment,” he said, urging replication of the facility across all NDLEA commands.
Receiving the equipment, Marwa thanked US-INL and UNODC for their support and assured that the Agency is “ready for the work ahead.” He said the NDLEA is at an advanced stage of digital transformation, and the state-of-the-art rooms upgrade the integrity of its investigative process, ensuring alignment with extant laws and global best practices. “We are not just commissioning rooms; we are upgrading the integrity of our investigative process. This is where technology meets the rule of law,” Marwa stated, adding that the tools will deliver higher investigative standards and more transparent, professional justice delivery.
