NDLEA URGES GLOBAL ACTION ON DRUG CARTELS, ILLICIT FINANCE AT UN ASSEMBLY

NDLEA URGES GLOBAL ACTION ON DRUG CARTELS, ILLICIT FINANCE AT UN ASSEMBLY


By Jennifer Nwosu 

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has presented Nigeria’s drug control reforms as a case study in institutional transformation, intelligence-led enforcement and public health intervention at the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, United States.

In a statement released by the Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the agency said Nigeria’s position was delivered on Monday, October 12, 2026, by its' Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), who was represented by the agency’s Secretary, Shadrach Haruna. The presentation formed part of the session themed Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations that Delivers for All.

Marwa outlined the NDLEA’s evolution from a predominantly enforcement-focused agency into an integrated, intelligence-led and people-centred institution combining law enforcement, public health, technology, financial investigations, alternative livelihoods and international cooperation to tackle increasingly sophisticated drug trafficking networks.

Between January 2025 and September 2026, the agency recorded 38,242 arrests, seized more than 5.8 million kilograms of illicit drugs valued at over ₦2.5 trillion and secured 6,232 convictions. During the same period, more than 16,303 people received counselling, treatment or rehabilitation, while prevention and sensitisation programmes reached millions of Nigerians.
Nigeria told the Assembly that its' strategy increasingly targets major traffickers, organised criminal networks and the financial proceeds of drug trafficking rather than relying solely on arrests and seizures.
The presentation also highlighted the NDLEA’s Alternative Development initiative, being piloted in three communities in Ondo State to help residents move from illicit cannabis cultivation to legitimate agricultural production. The programme aims to provide sustainable livelihoods while supporting food security, community resilience and national security.

The agency also cited its' Drug Integrity Test and Visa E-Administration System as examples of how digital tools can improve transparency, efficiency, accessibility and integrity in public administration. These reforms are being consolidated under the National Drug Control Master Plan 2026–2030, which covers six pillars: drug supply reduction, drug demand reduction, access to controlled medicines, governance and coordination, alternative development and disruption of the illicit drug economy.

Nigeria called on the international community to strengthen timely intelligence-sharing, intensify investigations into illicit financial flows, improve asset tracing and recovery, and expand access to drug prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and reintegration services. It also urged greater support for alternative livelihoods, capacity-building for law enforcement officers and investment in technology, forensic capabilities and treatment infrastructure, particularly in developing countries.

The country reaffirmed its' readiness to share experiences and work with United Nations agencies, member states and international partners to turn global commitments into coordinated action and measurable results, stressing that effective drug control requires sustained institutional investment and international cooperation.


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