Drug Trafficking:U.S. Donates 7 Vehicles, Equipment To NDLEA

The United States government on Wednesday donated seven vehicles and a variety of technical equipment to the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

This is in a bid to support the nation’s counter-narcotics agency, as the latest gesture brought the U.S.aids to combating drug abuse and trafficking in  Nigeria in the last four years to US$10m, with a total of 18 vehicles also donated to the body in the last 18 months.

The items and equipment included three units of Honda Accord vehicles, three units of Toyota Hilux trucks and a Toyota Hiace Van, according to a statement from the U.S.Consulate in Lagos.

Other items also donated are: Smith Detection Body Scan Unit, 16 Laptop Computers, 16 i2 Analyst Notebook Software, 20 Digital Cameras, five Electric Bill Counters and 25 Battery Power Supply Backup.

The vehicles and equipment were funded through the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) Counter-narcotics and Transnational Threats Program (CTTP),noted the statement.

During the presentation in Lagos, Consul General, John Bray, emphasized the importance of law enforcement cooperation between the United States and Nigeria in the fight against drug trafficking and abuse in Nigeria.

“We are pleased to support the NDLEA in its efforts to fight drug trafficking. We share the same objective of ridding our societies of the harmful effects of narcotics trafficking and illicit drug use,” said Bray, who handed over the vehicles to the NDLEA Director of Training and Manpower Development, Dr. Linus Opara.

Since the establishment of the NDLEA in 1990, the U.S. Mission to Nigeria has partnered with the agency and has increased U.S. bilateral assistance for combatting narcotics trafficking in Nigeria.

It is  recalled that in May 2016, the U.S. government donated 11 pick-up trucks and transport vans to the NDLEA.

“The U.S. Consulate General in Lagos, in partnership with the U.S. Africa Command (U.S. AFRICOM) and the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, has sponsored over 100 training courses since 2013 for the NDLEA, and trained 1,580 students.  The agency has received training in intelligence, evidence collection, management skills, tactical skills, and instructor training,” added the statement.