The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and its Nigerian counterpart have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to Combat Illicit Drug Trafficking.
The signing of the MoU was held in Bijilo.
The signing was described as begin of a joint strategic cooperation towards the fight against illicit drug use and trafficking in The Gambia and Nigeria.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Director General of Drug Law Enforcement Agency of The Gambia Alhagie Bakary Gassama, said the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding manifests the commitment of both parties to the three UN Drug Conventions.
He expressed optimism that the implementation of the MOU will be model law enforcement cooperation within the sub-region.
Mr. Gassama also noted that his agency’s partnership with Nigerian drug law agency will serve as a realistic step in strengthening the efforts geared towards tackling the world’s drug problem, as well as mark a renewed energy to facilitate an improved cooperation between and among anti-narcotic agencies within the sub-region and beyond.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Director of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency of Nigeria, Brigadier General Buba Marwa Mohammed, explained that the MOU designed to collectively and effectively combat the production, manufacturing and trafficking of illicit drugs between the two countries and in the sub-region.
“Drug trafficking is international in scope; which means collaboration is key to its successful interdiction, as in line with the affirmation and commitment in 2019 by our ministries at the 62nd Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, in Austria: to have a balanced integrated and comprehensive approach to the world’s drug problem based on the principle of common and shared responsibility,” Chairman Mohammed added.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister of Interior, Mr. Yankuba J.N Sonko posited that “fighting crime is noble but fighting drug related crime is honourable and selfless.”
He added that “one of the most rewarding jobs any citizen can undertake is fighting drug-related crime.”
He informed that The Gambia and Nigeria are among the countries that created a single mission agency purposely to fight against drugs, and that the MOU will serve the shared and common interest of the two states on drug-related matters.
More so, he affirmed that the signing of this MOU will serve as a positive step towards meeting the ECOWAS leaders’ ambition and commitment to the promotion of effective regional and international cooperation in criminal matters.
Minister Sonko therefore called on both parties to strengthen the existing cooperation and affirmed that Gambia Government is committed to supporting the full implementation of the MOU by empowering DLEAG with the requisite capacity and capability to effectively carry out the difficult task of drug interdiction.