…Set up teams to strengthen inter-agency collaboration
By Dele Ogbodo
In renewed vigour as never before, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) have set up teams on both sides to strengthen their inter-agency collaboration on the fight against the interconnected menace of human and drug trafficking as well as substance abuse.
The robust and fresh effort was the highpoint of discussions between the NDLEA Chairman, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) and the Director General (DG) of NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello when the latter led her management team on a courtesy visit to Marwa at the Agency’s National Headquarters in Abuja on Friday 25th April.
Speaking during the meeting, Marwa congratulated Bello on her well-deserved appointment to lead a very important agency like NAPTIP and commended her for hitting the ground running and achievements that are being record in such a short period.
He said: “There’s a linkage between human trafficking and drug trafficking and abuse. Some trafficked persons are used as mules, some may know, some may not know, they may give them drugs, sewn into their bag, and they can be drugged to be compliant, to do what they want.
“So, this is an area that we should collaborate further by signing an MoU that will actually bring about definite and unambiguous areas of collaboration.”
He assured her of NDLEA’s preparedness to deepen collaboration with NAPTIP while he named a three-member liaison team that will work with the team from NAPTIP on agreed areas of partnership.
Speaking earlier, the NAPTIP boss, emphasized the importance of deepened partnership between the two agencies to the disruption of criminal networks involved in human and drug trafficking as well as substance abuse.
According to her, drug trafficking and human trafficking are increasingly connected, both globally and locally, adding that women and children are used as drug couriers.
“Victims are also drugged and subjected to substance abuse as a method of control when they are trafficked.” She said.
Furthermore, Binta said: “Both crimes thrive on similar enablers, that is, porous borders, corruption, poverty, weak institutions, and digital space.
“Intelligence reports have shown overlaps in networks operating in both spheres, hence the urgent need for a coordinated response. We believe that there is immense potential for deepened collaboration between NAPTIP and NDLEA.
“Some actionable areas could include joint investigation and intelligence sharing, capacity building and cross-training, victim-centered approach, technology and data integration, public enlightenment and preventive advocacy, and legal reforms.
“This could be achieved, by our proposal of the next steps to be taken, that is, setting up of a liaison team to develop NAPTIP-NDLEA strategic action plan for the short to medium term activities, schedule bilateral meetings to review our operation partnership at least once or twice a year, and explore opportunities for international collaboration, which we are all aware that the two agencies are closely partnering with various international organizations.
“I want to affirm that NAPTIP is fully committed to partnership, professionalism, and patriotic service.
“We believe that together we will not only disrupt criminal networks, but also protect and empower vulnerable Nigerians who are often the ultimate victims of these crimes.” she stated.
