The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) are to strengthen their collaboration in the fight against human and drug trafficking and substance abuse.

The fresh effort was the high point of discussions between the two agencies when the NAPTIP’s director-general, Binta Adamu-Bello, led her team on a courtesy visit to the NDLEA on Friday in Abuja.

The NDLEA chairman, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa congratulated Ms Adamu-Bello on her appointment to lead NAPTIP.

“There’s a link between human trafficking, drug trafficking, and abuse. Some trafficked persons are used as mules; some may know, some may not know, they may give them drugs sewn into their bag, and they can be drugged to be compliant to do what they want.

“So, this is an area that we should collaborate further by signing an MoU that will actually bring about definite and unambiguous areas of collaboration,” the NDLEA chair said.

Mr Marwa assured her of NDLEA’s preparedness to deepen collaboration with NAPTIP, while he named a three-member liaison team that would work with NAPTIP on agreed areas of partnership.

Speaking earlier, the NAPTIP boss emphasised the importance of a deepened partnership between the two agencies to disrupt criminal networks involved in human and drug trafficking.

Ms Adamu-Bello said drug and human trafficking were increasingly connected, both globally and locally, adding that women and children were used as drug couriers.

“We believe that there is immense potential for deepened collaboration between NAPTIP and NDLEA.

“Some actionable areas could include joint investigation and intelligence sharing, capacity building and cross-training, victim-centred approach, technology and data integration, public enlightenment and preventive advocacy, and legal reforms.

“I want to affirm that NAPTIP is fully committed to partnership, professionalism, and patriotic service,” Ms Adamu-Bello maintained.

(NAN)