Customs Calls for Collaboration with NDLEA, NAFDAC to Tackle Smuggling of Illicit Drugs
Abeokuta, Nigeria – The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has emphasized the urgent need for deeper collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in order to strengthen the fight against the smuggling of illicit drugs into the country.
Adeniyi made this call on Wednesday during an official visit to the Ogun II Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
Speaking on the importance of inter-agency cooperation, the Customs boss revealed that synergy among Customs, NDLEA, and NAFDAC has already yielded significant results, including the seizure and destruction of over 200 containers filled with illegal drugs. He said such unified efforts have successfully prevented harmful substances from reaching the streets and endangering lives.
“Before now, the three major agencies that are involved in the law against drugs are the Customs, NDLEA, and NAFDAC. I discovered that the more we work closely together, the more we get results,” Adeniyi stated.
He further explained that when the Customs Service declared a state of emergency at airports to curb the importation of illicit drugs, they leveraged intelligence and operational support from both NDLEA and NAFDAC to execute joint missions that led to massive seizures.
“We did not stop at that. We also came together under the coordination of the office of the National Security Adviser to ensure the destruction of those drugs so that they do not get into the wrong hands,” he added.
Adeniyi also urged Customs officers deployed in border communities to build strong relationships with local residents, noting that locals often possess critical intelligence and familiarity with the terrain that can aid in intercepting smuggling operations.
In a related development, the Comptroller General commended Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, for his efforts in repositioning the state as Nigeria’s industrial hub. He affirmed the Customs Service’s commitment to supporting economic growth and national development through effective border management and trade facilitation.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Comptroller of the Ogun II Area Command, Bisi Alade, praised Adeniyi’s leadership and dedication to reforming and advancing the Customs Service. Alade emphasized the importance of discipline, integrity, and selfless service in achieving the agency’s core mandates.
As Nigeria continues to grapple with the challenges of drug trafficking, the renewed call for collaboration signals a more strategic and unified front among key regulatory agencies to dismantle smuggling networks and safeguard national security.
