NDLEA, India’s NCB Strengthen Partnership to Curb Tramadol, Codeine Shipments to Nigeria
…Agencies to deepen intelligence sharing, joint operations, and capacity building
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and India’s Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) have agreed to intensify their joint efforts to stem the flow of illicit drugs – particularly opioids such as tramadol and codeine-based syrup – from India to Nigeria.
This was the outcome of a high-level virtual meeting held on Wednesday, 6th August 2025, between NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), and NCB Director General, Mr Anurag Garg, alongside senior officials from both agencies.
Speaking during the engagement, Marwa highlighted the grave threat posed to public health and national security by the illicit drug trade, stressing the urgent need to strengthen the cooperation outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by both agencies in 2023.
“The main reason why I requested this engagement is the illicit importation of tramadol and codeine cough syrup into Nigeria from India. In the last 18 months alone – from January 2024 to June this year – we have seized over one billion pills of opioids, mainly tramadol, and more than 14.4 million bottles of codeine syrup,” Marwa revealed.
“We need the support and collaboration of the Narcotics Control Bureau of India to tackle this challenge. In addition, we seek your assistance in capacity building and specialised training for our officers, drawing from your expertise in drug investigation, financial forensics, cybercrime, and dark web monitoring.”
Responding, Garg underscored the global nature of the drug trafficking problem, noting that transnational syndicates operate without regard for borders or national laws. He pledged NCB’s readiness to share intelligence, operational strategies, and technical know-how with the NDLEA.
“Unless we come together, we cannot end this malady,” Garg stated. “We are ready to collaborate fully, particularly in intelligence sharing and targeted operations. On training, we have a dedicated centre in India and will be happy to curate programmes tailored to your needs, covering areas such as clandestine laboratory detection, precursor control, darknet surveillance, and investigative techniques.”
Both agencies reaffirmed their commitment to leveraging intelligence, joint operations, and capacity building as critical tools in dismantling the networks behind the illicit trade.
The meeting marks a significant step forward in Nigeria-India anti-narcotics cooperation, signalling renewed determination to protect communities from the devastating impact of opioid abuse.
