ABUJA, Nigeria (Chatnewstv.com) — The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has expanded its maritime surveillance and interdiction capacity after senior officers completed an intensive training program in the United Kingdom, the agency said Friday.
A six-member delegation from the Directorate of Seaport Operations, led by Deputy Commander of Narcotics Aminu Danjuma Jega, undertook the visit from Oct. 19 to 25 under the guidance of Errol Flynn Macdonald of the UK Home Office International Operations. The team toured major British maritime and border facilities and received briefings on port security, maritime intelligence and inter-agency coordination.
“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,” Jega said in his presentation to NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (ret.). He added that hands-on demonstrations in vessel rummage and underwater detection would help strengthen Nigeria’s efforts to counter drug trafficking through its seaports.
The visit included sessions with the UK Border Force, National Crime Agency, Home Office Intelligence, the National Maritime Security Centre and the Joint Maritime Security Centre in Portsmouth. Officers observed live operations at Tilbury and Felixstowe ports, where inbound Nigerian containers were inspected using layered, risk-based screening systems.
One of the key technologies showcased was the Advanced Sea Searcher System, an underwater detection tool used to locate hidden contraband beneath vessels and port structures. NDLEA officials said the system could be a game changer for future operations along Nigeria’s coastal corridors.
A second phase of the training, an Advanced Container Targeting course, was held in Lagos for 19 additional NDLEA personnel from Nov. 10 to 13, also conducted by the UK Home Office team. Both programs were fully sponsored by the UK government.
Marwa praised the officers for representing the agency exceptionally during the UK tour and reiterated NDLEA’s long-term commitment to upgrading its operational capacity.
“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,” Marwa said. “The lessons from this UK engagement will be vital in enhancing NDLEA’s effectiveness in intercepting drug consignments at sea.”
He said the agency would continue to expand cooperation with the UK Home Office and other international law enforcement partners to combat transnational drug trafficking networks.
