The French government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in its fight against drug cartels. This follows weeks of intensive special operations training for NDLEA officers conducted by the elite tactical unit of the French National Police, RAID.
The assurance was conveyed during a courtesy visit to the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), by the French Police Attaché in Nigeria, Mr. Phillipe Crespo, alongside his team, Messrs. Phillipe Barrau, Tony Albaladejo, and Cedric Hocquette, at the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja.
The training, held at the NDLEA Academy in Jos, Plateau State, marked the third such collaboration in the past two years. It focused on equipping officers of the NDLEA’s Strike Force Unit with advanced tactical and operational skills to counter drug trafficking and abuse.
France’s Commitment to a Growing Partnership
During the visit, Mr. Crespo lauded the NDLEA’s success in curbing illicit drug trafficking, which he said benefits not only Nigerian communities but also global cities impacted by drug-related crimes.
“The success of NDLEA’s operations is not only helping to protect Nigerians and Nigerian cities but equally communities in foreign lands through the Agency’s interdiction efforts that had led to huge seizures of assorted illicit drug consignments heading to Europe and other parts of the world,” Crespo stated.
He further proposed formalizing the growing collaboration through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in 2025, emphasizing the French government’s ongoing support and dedication to the partnership.
High Praise for NDLEA Officers
French technical expert Phillipe Barrau commended the professionalism and expertise demonstrated by NDLEA officers during the three-week training exercise.
“The diligence, expertise, and professionalism of NDLEA officers involved in the training were commendable. Both sides have a lot to learn from each other. The seamless execution of the programme reflects the capacity of the NDLEA Academy,” Barrau said.
Marwa: Global Partnerships Key to Fighting Drug Cartels
In his response, Brig. Gen. Marwa expressed his gratitude to the French government for its unwavering support and noted the importance of international collaboration in combating the global drug menace.
“The drug problem is huge and worldwide, and as such, we require global partnership, collaboration, and every bit of expertise we can acquire to confront the drug cartels and put an end to their activities, which pose a direct threat to public health and the security of countries across the globe,” Marwa stated.
Marwa recalled his visit to RAID headquarters in France in 2022, during which he requested such training programs. He commended the swift response from the French government and their consistency in organizing these exercises.
“It is therefore a thing of joy that our collaboration is not just growing at the level of drug law enforcement, but we can see the growing partnership between our two leaders: President Bola Tinubu and President Emmanuel Macron; our governments and our countries. This will in no small measure bring great benefits to both sides,” Marwa added.
He welcomed the proposed MoU, affirming the NDLEA’s commitment to fostering stronger ties with the French government and its institutions.
