Marwa honours fallen SIU officers, urges unified fight against drug cartels

The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), has reaffirmed Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to global cooperation in the fight against illicit drugs and transnational organised crime.

Marwa made this known in his address at the graduation ceremony of NDLEA officers at the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Training Academy in Quantico, Virginia, on Friday, 13 February 2026. He called for a strengthened global offensive against transnational organised crime, stressing that the growing sophistication of criminal networks requires deeper and more coordinated law enforcement collaboration.

The NDLEA boss described the ceremony as particularly significant, noting that the course was dedicated to members of the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) who paid the ultimate price in the line of duty.

He paid glowing tribute to the fallen officers, describing them as heroes whose courage, sacrifice and steadfast commitment to justice continue to inspire law enforcement personnel across nations.

Referring to the course motto, “Different nations, shared duty, one fight,” Marwa said it aptly captured the collective resolve of partner countries in confronting transnational organised crime. He emphasised that criminal networks operate across borders and therefore require a unified, coordinated and intelligence-driven global response.

The intensive training programme brought together elite officers from Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya, equipping them with advanced skills in critical areas of drug law enforcement and transnational crime investigation.

Marwa expressed confidence that the knowledge and expertise acquired would significantly boost the operational capacity of participating agencies to disrupt drug trafficking networks and dismantle organised criminal cartels across the region.

He urged the graduating officers to apply their new competencies with integrity, professionalism, courage and a strong sense of responsibility upon returning to their respective countries. He also expressed appreciation to the United States Department of Justice, the DEA leadership and instructors for their steadfast partnership, mentorship and continued investment in capacity building.