The French government has assured the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) of sustained collaboration and support in the fight against drug trafficking and abuse in Nigeria.
This commitment was reaffirmed on Saturday by the French Police Attaché in Nigeria, Mr. Phillipe Crespo, during a courtesy visit to the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja. He was accompanied by Messrs. Phillipe Barrau, Tony Albaladejo, and Cedric Hocquette.
The visit coincided with the conclusion of a series of special operations training for officers of the NDLEA’s Strike Force Unit at the agency’s academy in Jos, marking the third of such training sessions within two years.
Speaking during the visit, Crespo commended NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (Retd) for fostering strong partnerships with local and international agencies.
“The success of NDLEA’s operations is not only helping to protect Nigerians and Nigerian cities but equally communities in foreign lands,” Crespo said. He credited the agency’s interdiction efforts for massive seizures of illicit drug consignments destined for Europe and other regions.
“As a result, the French government through the French National Police will continue its support and collaboration with NDLEA,” he added, proposing that the expanding partnership be formalized through a memorandum of understanding in the new year.
French technical expert Phillipe Barrau praised the professionalism of NDLEA officers during the recent three-week training, noting the mutual benefits of shared expertise between both nations.
In his remarks, Marwa expressed gratitude for the French government’s consistent support.
“I remember in 2022 when I visited the headquarters of RAID in France on invitation and made a request for this type of training. I never imagined it would come this fast and consistently,” Marwa said.
He emphasized the global nature of the drug problem, highlighting the importance of partnerships to combat drug cartels whose activities threaten public health and global security.
Welcoming the proposed MoU, Marwa reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening the collaboration, stating, “It is a thing of joy that our partnership is not just growing in drug law enforcement but also fostering deeper ties between our nations.”
The growing cooperation reflects a shared resolve to confront drug cartels and ensure a safer global community.
