US Commends NDLEA Over Major Drug Busts

​The United States International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Bureau (INL) has praised the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for its remarkable operational breakthroughs, pledging deeper institutional cooperation and support.

​The commendation was delivered by the Country Director of INL Nigeria, Derek Tolliver, during a high-level meeting with NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja. Tolliver, who led a delegation from the US Government Accountability Office, lauded the agency’s rapid transformation and the string of high-profile arrests achieved under Marwa’s leadership.

​In his response, Marwa acknowledged that continuous international backing—particularly from the INL, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and AFRICOM—has been pivotal to the agency’s recent momentum. He highlighted that modern forensic facilities upgraded and supported by the INL in Lagos, Abuja, and Enugu have become central to modern crime-fighting.

​Crucially, Marwa revealed that advanced forensic equipment played an indispensable role in analyzing chemical samples recovered from an industrial-scale methamphetamine laboratory dismantled deep within the forests of Ogun State. According to the NDLEA chief, detailed analysis of the precursor materials exposed a dangerous component intended for the production of fentanyl—a highly potent synthetic opioid. He noted that without advanced testing tools provided through international partnerships, the presence of the lethal substance would have gone entirely undetected.

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​Both agencies reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral intelligence sharing, logistical capacity, and specialized training to combat transnational drug cartels.

​More details about the discovery of the clandestine drug facility can be found in this video covering the NDLEA Uncovers Suspected Meth Laboratory in Ogun State.