DRUG WAR : USA Government Equips  NDLEA With Forensic, Intelligent, Prosecution Equipment

The United States government has announced a project that will strengthen the forensic and chemical analysis capacity of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, and its intelligence gathering and prosecution capabilities.

The latest support from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) comes on the heels of an award of N500 million grant to fund selected projects in the Agency by the Abdul Samad Rabiu Initiative (ASR Africa).

According to an official letter announcing the U.S. project grant to the NDLEA, the award followed requests by the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, retired Brigadier General Buba Marwa during a series of meetings with top U.S. officials both in Abuja and in Washington DC.

According to NDLEA Director Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the letter noted that the project will be implemented by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Nigeria.

Aside from the support for the forensic and chemical analysis capacity of the Agency, the U.S. government also said the project will further support NDLEA efforts to conduct intelligence-led investigations through diverse resources, legal books and an e-library for prosecution and other legal needs of the Agency.

According to the letter, through all this, the NDLEA will be better equipped to prosecute cases with reliable evidence, using improved collection, handling, and custodial procedures.

It appreciated their strong and continued working relationship and believe the project will be an important step in advancing our shared goal of a united, peaceful, and stable Nigeria.