The agency's spokesman, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja. According to him, the NDLEA chairman, Buba Marwa, approved the delegation of top officials to hold talks with the Pakistani authorities to explore ways of collaboration and restricting channels of trafficking illicit substances.
The NDLEA delegation comprised Joseph Nbona, director, Prosecution and Legal Services; Gadzama Bashir, director, Operations and General Investigation; Abdulrahman Adebowale, head, Data/Digital Intelligence, Directorate of Intelligence; Aminu Jega, Directorate of Seaport Operations; and Aderemi Afolabi, deputy director, Investigation and Enforcement and NAFDAC.
The strategic case meeting held in Vienna, Austria, brought the two countries to discuss their responsibilities under the supervision of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB). The meeting focused on improved communication and exchange of real-time intelligence using the INCB communication tools, Incident Communication System, IONICS, between NDLEA and Pakistani anti-narcotics agencies.
At the end of the talks, the two delegations adopted important resolutions on how to improve their cooperation and tackle the menace of illicit drug trafficking between both countries, especially pharmaceutical opioids like Tramadol. The Pakistani delegation comprised Ahmad Din, Director, Division of Controlled Drugs, DRAP; Arif Muhammad, Additional Director, Division of Controlled Drugs, DRAP; Ammar Ali, Director (Anti-Narcotics Force), Regional Directorate, North, ANF; and Syed Ali-Bokhari, section officer, Controlled Substances Section, Ministry of Narcotics Control.
The Pakistani delegates expressed their commitment to improving operational communication with the NDLEA through existing networks between both countries and by using the possibilities offered by IONICS, the INCB’s tool on real-time communication. The collaboration between the two countries is expected to restrict channels of trafficking illicit substances and improve the exchange of intelligence on drug trafficking.