On Wednesday, the Gambia National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Nigeria’s National Law Drug enforcement agency(NDLEA) to nurture a strategic partnership between the two agencies.
Yankuba Sonko, the Minister of Interior, said the signing of the MoU is a clear manifestation of commitment as state parties to the UN Drug Conventions. NDLEA, he said, has been found as a strategic partner, not only owing to the experience at their disposal in drug interdiction.
“The implementation of this MoU will certainly deliver a greater and model law enforcement cooperation in the region, and it will manifest our collective resolve to face the apparent challenges of drug law enforcement and put our weight together to tackle these challenges.”
Minister Sonko added that the two agencies would use realistic steps in contributing meaningfully to the efforts geared towards tackling the world’s drug problems.
“I’m confident that our partnership will produce a new beginning in our drug interdiction efforts by synergizing intelligence-led result-based approach. Because without intelligence, there is no target, and without a target, there is no serious interdiction.” Said Minister Sonko.
General Buba Marwa Mohammed, Chairman of Nigeria NDLEA, said the MoU would help the two countries fight against illicit drugs and in the sub-region. He said Gambia and Nigeria have a long history of cooperation and share colonial history.
“Drug trafficking is an international problem, so countries need collaboration to empower them to fight against this global problem.“
Chairman Marwa revealed that from 2014 to 2017, there had been an increase in the trafficking of cannabis, cocaine, and other illicit drugs in the Sub-Region. “We are ready to collaborate with Gambia’s NDLEA to combat the issue of illicit drugs in our two countries and beyond.“
