By George Ozalla
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have agreed to set up a joint committee to address gaps in their operations and improve coordination in the fight against drug trafficking.
The decision followed a meeting between the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, and the Chairman of NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd), at the agency’s headquarters in Jahi, Abuja.
Discussions at the meeting centred on how both agencies handle seized narcotics, prosecution of cases and the disposal of exhibits after arrests and handovers.
Adeniyi, who led senior Customs officers to the meeting, said recent international engagements had again drawn attention to the role of the West African corridor in drug trafficking, noting that Nigeria’s response at home must match the commitments made abroad.
He said Customs had continued to intercept consignments and transfer them to NDLEA, particularly through the Apapa Command and other formations, but noted that seizures alone do not complete the process.
He pointed to delays in the destruction of drugs, limited feedback on prosecution and weak tracking of cases after handover, saying these gaps affect the overall outcome of enforcement.
The Customs boss proposed practical steps to address the issues, including joint destruction of seized drugs where no suspects are arrested, regular updates on cases, coordinated court appearances and closer contact between officers of both agencies at operational level.
He said the aim was to strengthen an existing relationship and make it more effective.
Responding, Marwa said the issues raised were genuine and require attention, adding that NDLEA is ready to work more closely with Customs in a more structured manner.
He said the planned joint committee would review the current Memorandum of Understanding between the two agencies and identify areas that need clarity or adjustment.
Marwa added that the committee would also recommend improvements, including a reporting system that ensures Customs is kept informed on investigations, prosecutions and final disposal of cases arising from its seizures.
Both agencies agreed that the outcome of the committee’s work would guide the next phase of cooperation as they work to close existing gaps in enforcement.
