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Sheikh Zayed bin Hamad Al Nahyan, chairman of the UAE’s National Drug Enforcement Authority, witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between his agency and Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency on the sidelines of the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, which Abu Dhabi is hosting through October 1. Rashid Hamad Al Shamsi, director-general of the UAE authority, signed for his side while Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa, chairman and chief executive of the NDLEA, signed on behalf of Nigeria. The pact establishes a framework for joint action against the production, manufacture and smuggling of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors, according to the Emirates News Agency.
The memorandum provides for the exchange of information and data on counter-measures, mutual assistance in controlled delivery operations and the monitoring of drug movements, the Emirates News Agency reported. It also calls for the sharing of expertise, training programmes, reciprocal visits, workshops and the exchange of relevant research and legislation in line with each country’s laws and international obligations. The agreement marks a new phase of security cooperation between the two nations in confronting this transnational threat.
NDLEA figures show that the agency intercepted 354.7 kilogrammes of illicit drugs including cocaine, cannabis, tramadol, rohypnol, ecstasy and khat in consignments bound for the UAE between 2021 and 2026, resulting in 47 arrests and prosecutions. Marwa, who spoke at the signing ceremony, described the pact as the culmination of years of engagement that will deepen intelligence-sharing and joint enforcement along the Nigeria-UAE corridor. The NDLEA chairman added that the UAE side will supply Nigerian travellers with a comprehensive list of prohibited items to prevent inadvertent violations.
The partnership builds on existing liaison-officer exchanges and operational coordination already under way between the two agencies, according to a statement from the NDLEA. Sheikh Zayed bin Hamad Al Nahyan reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to working with Nigeria to dismantle trafficking networks that exploit travel and trade links. The memorandum forms part of the UAE’s strategy of forging bilateral partnerships with international security bodies to address drug trafficking and abuse.
NDLEA data places the agency’s overall record at more than 91,000 arrests, including 243 alleged drug barons, between January 2021 and July 2026, along with seizures exceeding 15.5 million kilogrammes of illicit drugs and precursor chemicals and 16,469 convictions. These broader enforcement results underscore the scale of the challenge that the new bilateral agreement seeks to address through enhanced cross-border collaboration. The pact also reflects the strong diplomatic relations between Nigeria and the UAE.
The United Nations Congress hosting the signing has drawn participants from around the world to discuss crime prevention and criminal justice cooperation, providing the setting for this and other bilateral initiatives. Both sides expressed confidence that the memorandum will improve technical assistance and information flow to disrupt organised networks operating between the two countries. The agreement aligns with international conventions on narcotics control that both nations have endorsed.
