The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has praised Nigeria’s intensified fight against drug trafficking, stating that the country is no longer a safe operating base for international drug cartels.
The agency credited the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for its record arrests, seizures, and convictions under its current leadership, which have significantly disrupted criminal networks.
Speaking at a handover ceremony in Abuja, UNODC’s representative highlighted that drug trafficking remains a global threat fueling crime, corruption, and instability. He noted that Nigeria’s strategic position has long made it a transit hub for illicit drug networks spanning multiple continents, but recent enforcement actions have changed that narrative.
NDLEA leadership, in response, expressed appreciation to international partners for supporting its modernization efforts, including the provision of advanced audiovisual interrogation facilities. The agency emphasized that these upgrades strengthen transparency, improve investigative standards, and align operations with global best practices in criminal justice.
Both institutions reaffirmed their shared commitment to a more professional, technology-driven, and rights-based approach to combating drug trafficking in Nigeria.
