The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) have established liaison teams on both sides to strengthen collaboration in combating the interconnected scourge of human trafficking, drug trafficking, and substance abuse.
This renewed effort was the highlight of discussions between the NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier-General Mohamed Marwa (Retired), and the Director-General of NAPTIP, Binta Lami Adamu Bello, during a courtesy visit by the latter and her management team to the NDLEA Headquarters in Abuja on Friday.
During the meeting, Marwa congratulated Adamu Bello on her well-deserved appointment to lead such a crucial agency and commended her for hitting the ground running.
“There is a clear linkage between human trafficking and drug trafficking and abuse,” Marwa said. “Some trafficked persons are used as mules—some may be aware, others may not. They may be given drugs hidden in their luggage or even drugged themselves to ensure compliance. This is an area where we must collaborate further by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that defines specific and unambiguous areas of cooperation.”
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He assured her of NDLEA’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with NAPTIP and announced the formation of a three-member liaison team to work with NAPTIP on agreed areas of partnership.
Earlier in the meeting, the NAPTIP Director-General stressed the importance of an enhanced partnership between the two agencies to disrupt criminal networks engaged in human and drug trafficking, as well as substance abuse.
“Drug trafficking and human trafficking are increasingly interlinked, both globally and locally. Women and children are frequently used as drug couriers. Victims are also drugged and subjected to substance abuse as a means of control when trafficked,” she noted.
“Moreover, both crimes thrive on similar enablers such as porous borders, corruption, poverty, weak institutions, and the digital space. Intelligence reports have revealed overlaps in the networks operating in both spheres, underscoring the urgent need for a coordinated response. We believe there is great potential for deepened collaboration between NAPTIP and the NDLEA.”
She outlined several potential areas for joint action, including joint investigations and intelligence sharing, capacity building and cross-training, a victim-centred approach, technology and data integration, public awareness and preventive advocacy, and legal reforms.
“These goals can be achieved through the development of a joint NAPTIP-NDLEA strategic action plan for short- to medium-term activities, scheduling bilateral meetings to review our operational partnership once or twice a year, and exploring opportunities for international collaboration—bearing in mind that both agencies are already working closely with various international organisations,” she said.
“I want to affirm that NAPTIP is fully committed to partnership, professionalism, and patriotic service. We believe that together, we can not only dismantle criminal networks but also protect and empower vulnerable Nigerians, who are often the ultimate victims of these crimes.”
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