Senior officials of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have held a two-day meeting with their South African counterparts in the Directorate of Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), popularly known as HAWKS, to forge stronger operational ties and combat drug syndicates operating between both countries.
   
At the meeting, Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd), said deliberations – a follow up to a virtual session in April 2022 – would “bridge gap and rekindle efforts by deepening collaboration, in line with the principle of common and shared responsibility in tackling the global drug problem.”  
   
Marwa, who was represented by the agency’s Secretary, Shadrach Haruna, said: “Among other expected outcomes of this visit is the need to have a collaborative Memorandum of Understanding to combat drug trafficking and related crimes between NDLEA and DPCI of South Africa. 
  
“This will provide a framework for enhanced information exchange and joint operations/joint airport interdiction; all promising dividends that will benefit our two organisations and countries greatly.”
   
The meeting was held at NDLEA national headquarters in Abuja. Marwa noted increasing sophistication of drug trafficking cartels, particularly proliferation of methamphetamine laboratories and emergence of fentanyl production facilities, which pose grave threats to safety and well-being of citizens in both countries. He said this demands swift action, through seamless exchange of intelligence and technical expertise.
   
 Responding, leader of the South African delegation, Lt. Gen. Senaba Mosipi, described collaboration between the two countries as necessary because criminals in the drug trade do not recognise borders or geographical boundaries. He added that NDLEA and HAWKS “have capacity to work together, no matter the distance between our countries.”