Retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has announced that the recent diving training for the agency’s Marine Command officers will significantly deter large cocaine shipments to Nigeria. Marwa emphasized that this new capability would send a clear message to international drug cartels that their illicit consignments cannot be hidden on any ship or vessel entering Nigerian waters.
According to a statement from Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy at NDLEA, the training involved basic diving, advanced open-water diving, and full-face mask diving. Eight officers from four countries, including two from Nigeria, were trained by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Bombinhas City, Brazil, in two phases—November 2023 and July 2024. This initiative was part of a broader effort to enhance the fight against drug trafficking and transnational crime in Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria, and Senegal.
Marwa praised the NDLEA officers for their exemplary performance and highlighted that their new skills in diving will enable them to inspect ship hulls thoroughly. This advancement is expected to discourage global drug networks from attempting to smuggle large quantities of drugs into Nigeria. The NDLEA will continue to advance its capabilities and training to stay ahead of drug traffickers and ensure the safety and security of the country.