Customs Area Controllers Receive NDLEA Awards for Anti-Smuggling Efforts on Drug Trafficking
Author: Ibe Wada.
Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, in charge of the Nigeria Customs Service, Apapa Area Command, alongside Comptroller Dera Nnadi, Comptroller Paul Bamisaiye and Comptroller Olanrewaju Olumoh, have been recognised for their exceptional leadership in combating drug trafficking.
The award was presented by Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Mohammed Buba Marwa (Rtd), at the launch of the NDLEA Marine Command Headquarters launch in Lagos on Wednesday, 16 October 2024.
Olomu emphasised the importance of the collaboration between the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and NDLEA, stating, “This collaboration has yielded tangible results; the synergy between our agencies has drastically reduced the influx of illegal substances into Nigeria, and today’s recognition motivates us to do even more.
Other Area Controllers stressed the significance of intelligence sharing in safeguarding Nigeria’s borders.
“The MoU between the two agencies has been pivotal in facilitating significant drug seizures across various commands,” Nnadi stated, praising the partnership’s success.
The NDLEA Chairman expressed gratitude to the British government for its role in supporting the new marine facility. He noted that the new headquarters would enhance the agency’s capacity to combat drug trafficking via Nigeria’s coastal routes.
Marwa also revealed that the NDLEA, in collaboration with customs and international partners, had recently intercepted over 61,000 kg of illicit drugs and arrested 41 suspects in ongoing operations.
