Sunday Oyinloye
The Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Gambia (DLEAG) has pledged its cooperation with Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA even as the Director -General of DLEAG, Alhagie Bakary Gassama commended what he called the proactive leadership style of the Chairman/ Chief Executive of NDLEA Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd ) since he assumed headship seven months ago
Bakary pledged his country’s cooperation in Banjul, at the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NDLEA and DLEAG, which borders on cooperation in combating illicit production, manufacture, and trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors.
While emphasizing the need for the two countries to work together, the Director General stressed that partnership and more intelligence on drug interdiction efforts between the two agencies would not only benefit both countries, but the rest of Africa.
Also speaking at the event, the Gambian Minister of Interior, Yankuba Sonko commended the initiative between NDLEA and DLEAG, adding that such will in no small measure boost law enforcement operations against drug trafficking in Africa and promote law and order in the two countries.
In his remarks, the Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) harped on the need for regional and international cooperation to successfully cut off drug supply to the rising criminal gangs across the world.
He said nations across the globe are daily grappling with the challenge of drug-induced crime and criminalities, and as such must forge a common front to confront the evil twins of drug trafficking and abuse.
Marwa expressed optimism that the collaboration between Nigeria and Gambia on drug war will ginger similar partnerships among other countries in West Africa and on the African continent.
According to him, the MoU is in furtherance of the affirmation and commitment entered into between the Ministers of Justice of the two countries at the 62nd session of the UN Commission on drug in Vienna, Austria.
“ The shared colonial history heightened by our cultural affinity and business transactions in addition to statistics on drug abuse in West Africa calls for urgent need for collaboration.
“We in the NDLEA are prepared to collaborate with the sharing of intelligence, operations and any other area that will help to effectively combat illicit drug trafficking between our two countries” he said
NDLEA’s Director, Media & Advocacy, Femi Babafemi in a press statement made available to Green Savannah Diplomatic Cable said the ceremony was attended by Nigeria’s Ambassador to Gambia, Mohammed Manu and Heads of various law enforcement and intelligence agencies in the Gambia, among others.
