NDLEA Enhances Airport Operations with Advanced Training for Officers
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has conducted advanced training for its Commanders and officers stationed at major airports across Nigeria, a strategic move aimed at bolstering its operations against illicit drug trafficking.
The training focused on the Advance Passenger Information System (API) and Passenger Targeting/Intelligence Gathering.
The workshops, facilitated by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), were held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, and Abuja.
They aimed to equip the NDLEA personnel with the skills necessary to identify and intercept high-risk passengers, cargo, and mail effectively.
These efforts are part of a broader strategy to dismantle cross-border criminal networks and illicit drug flows by fostering better coordination between countries of origin, transit, and destination.
Key participants included the Commander of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), ACGN Usman Ali Wadar, and his counterpart from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), CN Mohammed Ajiya, who attended a six-day session in Abidjan.
Additionally, 13 officers from the MMIA and NAIA Commands took part in a five-day training held in Abuja. These officers are now tasked with cascading the knowledge and skills gained to their colleagues to ensure seamless integration of the new techniques into daily operations.
The training was funded under the AIRCOP Airport Communication Project, a collaborative initiative supported by the European Union, Australia, Canada, France, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The project is implemented by the UNODC to enhance security measures at airports globally.
Commending the initiative, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), expressed gratitude to the facilitators, Ms. Fabienne Russel of UNODC and Anderson Leme Siqueira of the Brazilian Customs Administration.
He applauded their dedication in conducting sessions in both Abidjan and Abuja. Marwa also lauded the participating officers for their commitment and urged them to immediately deploy the new tools and strategies to strengthen the NDLEA’s operations across Nigeria’s international airports.
The advanced training underscores NDLEA’s resolve to intensify its fight against drug trafficking and enhance national security through innovative, collaborative efforts.
