Nigeria, Saudi Arabia Forge Strategic Pact to Crush Drug Cartels

Nigeria, Saudi Arabia Tighten the Noose on Drug Cartels with Historic Anti-Narcotics Pact

Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) and Major General Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Qarni signing the MoU between NDLEA and GDNC in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on April 7, 2025.

In a historic move to dismantle transnational drug trafficking syndicates, Nigeria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have fortified their law enforcement collaboration with the signing of a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC). The agreement, sealed on Monday, April 7, 2025, in Riyadh, represents a renewed commitment to global efforts against the scourge of narcotics.

NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), accompanied by the Agency’s Director of Operations and General Investigation, Ahmed Sule Ningi, led Nigeria’s delegation to the ceremony. The signing underscores what Marwa called “a long-overdue but crucial milestone” in a robust and evolving alliance between both countries.

“This partnership goes beyond formal engagements—it embodies a strategic convergence of commitment and capacity between two nations battling a common enemy. The MoU will deepen intelligence sharing, joint training, and coordinated investigations, building on nearly two decades of silent but significant collaboration,” Marwa declared.

Among the highlights of the MoU are provisions for intelligence exchange, shared access to Saudi Arabia’s narcotics training academy, logistics support for Nigerian operations, joint investigations, and the sharing of data on convicted traffickers.

Marwa emphasized the urgency and global dimension of the drug threat, describing narcotics as “a global challenge that transcends geography, ideology, and borders.” He commended existing global frameworks such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), through which countries have coordinated to tackle narcotics with unity and resolve.

Over the past four years, NDLEA has intensified its crackdown on drug networks, recording over 57,792 arrests, including 65 notorious barons. The agency has seized over 10 million kilograms of illicit drugs, secured 10,572 convictions, and rehabilitated more than 22,000 drug users across its 33 treatment centers.

The agency’s anti-drug offensive has often intersected with Saudi Arabia’s support. In the last 18 years, 44 Nigerian suspects were arrested in 35 drug cases at various airports en route to the Kingdom. Between 2007 and January 2025, authorities seized 37.6kg of cocaine and other illegal substances. Notably, in September 2021, NDLEA—acting on Saudi intelligence—seized 74.12kg of Captagon at Apapa Port, marking Africa’s first-ever Captagon bust.

Saudi assistance also proved pivotal in busting trafficking rings involving Nigerian nationals. In August 2023, following arrests in Jeddah, NDLEA swiftly dismantled the syndicate back in Nigeria, illustrating the impact of real-time cross-border intelligence and coordination.

While appreciating Saudi Arabia’s unwavering support, Marwa expressed optimism that the newly formalized relationship would accelerate operational efficiency and strategic breakthroughs.

In his remarks, Major General Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Qarni, Director General of GDNC, hailed the MoU as a product of resilience and mutual trust, noting that it had been three years in the making. He praised Marwa’s commitment to global anti-drug efforts and reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s readiness to implement the agreement in full, pledging additional assistance to Nigeria in the coming months.

This MoU marks a new chapter in the war against illicit drugs—a fight no country can win alone. It is a powerful statement that when nations unite, drug barons can no longer hide behind borders.