NDLEA: Nigeria, Ghana Anti-narcotics Agencies Sign Pact Against Drug Cartels

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.) has said the renewed partnership between the agency and Ghana’s Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) should serve as a strong warning to drug cartels operating across West Africa.

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Marwa said Nigeria and Ghana had resolved to work together more closely to confront illicit drug trafficking, money laundering and other forms of transnational organised crime threatening peace and stability in the sub-region.

Naija News reports that Marwa spoke on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, when he received a delegation from NACOC at the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja.

The Ghanaian delegation was led by the Director-General of NACOC, Brig. Gen. Maxwell Obuba Mantey, on a benchmarking visit and study tour of the NDLEA operational model.

Speaking during the visit, Marwa said the growing collaboration between the two agencies had become necessary because criminal networks were increasingly operating across borders.

He warned drug cartels that Nigeria and Ghana would continue to strengthen their operations until illicit drug networks were dismantled.

“Let this visit serve as a warning to those who seek to destabilize our societies with illicit drugs: Nigeria and Ghana stand united. We will continue to innovate, collaborate, and dominate the tactical space until our streets and communities are safe,” Marwa stated.

The NDLEA boss said the visit demonstrated the longstanding relationship between Nigeria and Ghana and showed that both countries remained committed to regional security.

According to him, the cooperation between the two countries is not only important to their domestic security but also to peace and stability across West Africa.

Drug Trafficking Has No Borders – NDLEA

In a statement issued by the Director of Media and Advocacy at NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi, Marwa said drug trafficking and related crimes had become too complex for any country to tackle alone.

He noted that transnational organised crime, especially drug trafficking and its connection with money laundering, had continued to evolve in ways that required stronger cooperation among countries in the region.

“The threat posed by transnational organised crime, particularly drug trafficking and its associated money laundering activities, knows no borders,” Marwa said.

“As we have seen, the evolution of these threats requires a response that is not only robust but also deeply collaborative.

“We recognize that by coming together to share expertise in intelligence-led operations and interdiction strategies, we are effectively narrowing the space for criminal cartels to operate within our sub-region.”

Marwa said the exchange between both agencies would help strengthen intelligence-led operations, improve interdiction strategies and make it harder for criminal groups to use West Africa as a transit or destination route for illicit drugs.

The NDLEA chairman described the Ghanaian delegation’s visit as more than a benchmarking exercise.

According to him, it represented a strategic alignment between two important anti-narcotics institutions in the region.

“This visit is more than a study tour; it is a strategic alignment,” he said.

“During your time with us, we look forward to knowledge exchange during which we share the NDLEA’s recent advancements in digital forensics and organisational best practices.

“Part of the expected gains is operational synergy as we will be discussing emerging trafficking trends that affect the West African corridor, while we equally explore new frontiers for technical cooperation and joint training exercises.”

Marwa said the two agencies would use the engagement to review emerging drug trafficking patterns, strengthen technical cooperation and identify areas where joint training and coordinated operations could be improved.

Naija News reports that a major highlight of the visit was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between NDLEA and NACOC.

Marwa described the agreement as the most significant milestone of the engagement, saying it would provide both agencies with a legal and operational framework for deeper cooperation.

He explained that the MoU covered the fight against the illicit production of psychotropic substances, precursor chemicals and related money laundering activities.

“This agreement on combating the illicit production of psychotropic substances, their precursors, and related money laundering activities provides us with a legal and operational roadmap,” Marwa said.

“It moves our relationship from informal consultation to a structured, aggressive, and unified front against drug barons.”

The NDLEA boss said the agreement would help both agencies move beyond occasional engagements to a more organised and sustained campaign against drug trafficking networks.

In his remarks, the Director-General of NACOC, Brig. Gen. Maxwell Obuba Mantey, praised Nigeria’s leadership role in West Africa, saying Ghana valued its relationship with Nigeria.

He described Nigeria as an elder brother whose leadership in the region was recognised and respected.

“Nigeria has consistently played a leading role within our region, and Ghana holds that leadership in the highest regard,”

“In many respects, we look to Nigeria as an elder brother. Beyond that, the relationship between our two countries is deeply valued.

“It is grounded in shared history, mutual respect, and a common commitment to peace, stability, and sustainable development across West Africa.”

Mantey said the relationship between NACOC and NDLEA had grown over the years and reflected the broader bond between Ghana and Nigeria.

According to him, the visit was not designed to begin a new relationship but to strengthen an already existing partnership.

“For us therefore, this visit is not about beginning a new chapter, but about strengthening an already solid foundation, deepening trust, exchanging experiences, and making our collaboration even more practical and impactful,” he said.

The NACOC boss said drug trafficking across West Africa had become more sophisticated, with traffickers increasingly relying on maritime corridors and synthetic drugs.

He warned that the connection between drug trafficking and other organised crimes was becoming more pronounced, with serious implications for security, governance and public health.

“We are witnessing increasingly sophisticated trafficking methods, a greater reliance on maritime corridors, and a growing presence of synthetic drugs,” Mantey said.

“At the same time, the linkages between drug trafficking and other forms of organised crime are becoming more pronounced, with implications for security, governance, and public health.”

He said Ghana was also witnessing a change in its own drug situation.

According to him, while the country had historically been regarded largely as a transit point, there was now a growing domestic dimension involving drug use and internal distribution.

“In Ghana, we are also observing a gradual shift. While we have historically been considered largely a transit point, there is now a growing domestic dimension, both in terms of drug use and internal distribution,” he said.

“This makes the challenge more complex, but also more urgent. And it reinforces a simple but critical reality: no single country can effectively address this threat in isolation.”

Mantey said the Ghanaian delegation came to Nigeria with a clear purpose: to exchange experiences, strengthen institutional ties and identify practical areas for enhanced cooperation.

He said NACOC was particularly interested in operations, training and intelligence sharing.

“We came with a clear purpose: to exchange experiences, strengthen our institutional relationship, and identify practical areas for enhanced cooperation, particularly in operations, training, and intelligence sharing,” he said.

“Across all these areas, our focus goes beyond activities alone. We are especially interested in the systems behind the successes, the structures, policies, and operational models that ensure consistency, efficiency, and long-term impact.”

The NACOC chief said Ghana was interested in learning from the NDLEA’s operational model, including the structures and policies that had helped the Nigerian agency sustain its anti-drug campaigns.

Mantey said the signing of the MoU was a major step towards deeper collaboration between the two agencies.

He, however, stressed that the agreement must not remain only on paper.

According to him, the value of the partnership would be measured by practical outcomes, including stronger intelligence sharing, coordinated operations and regular training exchanges.

“We are especially pleased to bring our discussions on bilateral cooperation to a meaningful conclusion with the long-awaited signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, marking a significant milestone toward deeper collaboration and a stronger partnership between our two agencies,” he said.

“For us, this MOU must go beyond a symbolic gesture. It should translate into real, measurable outcomes, stronger intelligence sharing, more coordinated joint operations, structured training exchanges, and closer day-to-day collaboration between our respective teams.

“The true value of this partnership will be defined not by what we sign, but by what we implement.”

Mantey also thanked the NDLEA leadership for its hospitality and openness during the engagement.

“We value this relationship deeply and remain fully committed to strengthening it even further,” he added.

The ceremony was attended by the acting Ghanaian High Commissioner in Nigeria, Dr Gladys Mansa Yawa Feddy Akyea, and other senior officials of the High Commission.

Members of the NACOC delegation and top management staff of the NDLEA were also present.

The visit is expected to strengthen cooperation between Nigeria and Ghana in the fight against drug trafficking, illicit production of psychotropic substances, precursor chemicals and money laundering across the West African corridor.