The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intensified maritime surveillance and interdiction operations following a week-long study tour to the United Kingdom by officers of its seaport operations directorate.
Gatekeepers News reports that a six-member delegation led by Aminu Danjuma Jega, deputy commander of narcotics (DCN), participated in the training from 19 to 25 October 2025 under the supervision of Errol Flynn Macdonald of the UK Home Office (International Operations).
In a statement on Friday, NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi said the team visited major British maritime and border enforcement facilities, where they were introduced to global best practices in maritime intelligence, port security, container screening, and inter-agency coordination.
The programme continued in Lagos, where 19 additional NDLEA officers completed a four-day advanced container targeting course from 10 to 13 November 2025. Both the UK tour and the Lagos training were funded by the International Operations Unit.
During their engagements in the UK, the delegation held extensive discussions with officials of the UK Border Force, the National Crime Agency (NCA), Home Office intelligence, the National Maritime Security Centre, and the Joint Maritime Security Centre in Portsmouth.
“During the engagements, the team received comprehensive presentations by the UK National Deep Rummaging Team, which showcased modern techniques and procedures for vessel rummage operations aimed at detecting and preventing illicit drug trafficking through sea routes,” the statement read.
The officers also witnessed live demonstration exercises at Tilbury and Felixstowe ports, where inward-bound containers from Nigeria underwent layered inspection and risk-based screening.
Briefing NDLEA chairman Buba Marwa on the outcomes, Jega said the exposure had deepened the team’s understanding of intelligence-driven maritime enforcement.
“We were exposed to advanced tools, data-sharing models, and inter-agency coordination frameworks that will significantly improve our maritime intelligence gathering and port surveillance operations,” he said.
“The practical demonstrations we witnessed, particularly in vessel rummage and underwater detection, are invaluable to NDLEA’s ongoing efforts to counter transnational drug trafficking through our seaports.”
Marwa commended the officers for representing the country effectively and reiterated the agency’s commitment to strengthening border security through technology and continuous capacity building.
“Maritime routes remain critical in global drug trafficking networks. Strengthening our officers’ technical capacity and intelligence integration with our international partners is essential to safeguarding Nigeria’s borders,” he said.
“The lessons from this UK engagement will be vital in enhancing NDLEA’s effectiveness in intercepting drug consignments at sea and ensuring safer maritime operations.”
