NDLEA, Indian NCB Forge Stronger Ties to Combat Tramadol and Codeine Smuggling.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) of Nigeria and India’s Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) have agreed to step up joint efforts to curb the trafficking of illicit drugs between the two countries.

Their focus is particularly on the illegal importation of opioids such as tramadol and codeine-based cough syrups into Nigeria from India.

This agreement was part of discussions during a virtual meeting held on Wednesday in Abuja between NDLEA Chairman, retired Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa, and NCB Director-General, Mr. Anurag Garg.

According to a statement from the NDLEA spokesperson, Marwa highlighted the serious public health and security risks posed by drug trafficking in both nations.

He stressed the importance of strengthening the existing cooperation under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2023 between the two agencies.

Marwa pointed out that since January 2024, Nigeria has intercepted more than one billion opioid pills mainly tramadol and over 14.4 million bottles of codeine syrup. He appealed to the NCB for greater collaboration to tackle this problem.

He also requested support in the form of specialised training for NDLEA personnel in areas such as drug investigations, cybercrime, the dark web, financial investigations, and forensic analysis.

In response, NCB’s Anurag Garg agreed that enhanced cooperation was vital, noting that drug trafficking is a global challenge driven by transnational criminal networks.

He expressed the bureau’s willingness to work closely with the NDLEA, sharing intelligence, expertise, and training resources.

Garg also reaffirmed India’s commitment to capacity building, offering tailored training programs to NDLEA officers in key areas including clandestine laboratories, chemical precursors, and monitoring illegal activity on the darknet.

The meeting was attended by senior officials from both drug control agencies, who welcomed the move as a positive step toward strengthening bilateral efforts against drug trafficking.