The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has taken significant steps to strengthen maritime surveillance and drug interdiction across Nigeria’s seaports through a combination of international and local training programmes.
A six-member delegation from the Directorate of Seaport Operations completed a week-long working visit to the United Kingdom from 19 to 25 October 2025. Led by Deputy Commander of Narcotics Aminu Danjuma Jega and hosted by Errol Flynn Macdonald of the UK Home Office International Operations (HOIO), the officers toured key British maritime and border security facilities.
According to the Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the team gained exposure to global best practices in intelligence-led port security, inter-agency collaboration, and maritime surveillance.
Following the UK visit, 19 additional NDLEA officers underwent a five-day Advanced Container Targeting training in Lagos between 10 and 13 November 2025. Both the international tour and the Lagos programme were sponsored by the UK Home Office International Operations.
During their UK engagements, NDLEA officers held technical discussions with officials from the UK Border Force, National Crime Agency, Home Office Intelligence, the National Maritime Security Centre, and the Joint Maritime Security Centre in Portsmouth.
The delegation also received briefings from the UK National Deep Rummaging Team on modern vessel-rummage techniques for detecting concealed drug consignments in ships and containers. They observed live operations at Tilbury and Felixstowe Ports, where inward-bound containers from Nigeria were subjected to layered inspections and risk-based screening systems.
A highlight of the visit was the Advanced Sea Searcher System, an underwater detection technology capable of identifying contraband hidden beneath vessels and port structures. NDLEA sees this system as a key asset for future maritime interdiction along Nigeria’s coastal and port environments.
Upon returning, Jega briefed NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), explaining that the exposure deepened the officers’ understanding of intelligence-driven maritime enforcement. He said the tools, data-sharing practices, and cooperation frameworks observed would improve coordination with other Nigerian maritime and security agencies.
“We were exposed to advanced tools, data-sharing models, and inter-agency coordination frameworks that will significantly improve our maritime intelligence gathering and port surveillance operations. The practical demonstrations we witnessed, particularly in vessel rummage and underwater detection, are invaluable to NDLEA’s ongoing efforts to counter transnational drug trafficking through our seaports,” Jega said.
Marwa commended the officers and reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to continuous capacity development and adoption of modern technology in combating illicit drugs.
He added that NDLEA will continue to strengthen partnerships with the UK Home Office International Operations and other global law enforcement agencies to combat transnational crimes linked to illicit drugs.
“Maritime routes remain critical in global drug trafficking networks. Strengthening our officers’ technical capacity and intelligence integration with our international partners is essential to safeguarding Nigeria’s borders. The lessons from this UK engagement will be vital in enhancing NDLEA’s effectiveness in intercepting drug consignments at sea and ensuring safer maritime operations,” he said.
