As part of continuing support from the United States to the government and people of Nigeria, the United States on Tuesday in Lagos donated eleven pick-up trucks and transport vans to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
DAILY POST reports that the vehicles are the latest U.S. donation to the NDLEA to assist counter-narcotics efforts.
U.S. Consul General Francis John Bray, who handed over the vehicles to the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah, said “The United States will continue to support the NDLEA and the country of Nigeria to combat the proliferation of drug trafficking and drug abuse. This is a responsibility we share as democratic nations.”
Since the establishment of the NDLEA in 1990, the U.S. Mission to Nigeria has partnered with the NDLEA and has increased U.S. bilateral assistance for combatting narcotics trafficking in Nigeria.
In the past four years, the United States has provided more than US$10 million in training and equipment 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 of the U.S. Department of State, 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.
In taking possession of the pick-up trucks and transport vans, Abdallah expressed optimism that the vehicles will help the anti-narcotics agency in its fight against drug trafficking.
“It is on account of the mentorship and support that we get from the U.S. that we have been able to record some of our successes,” he said.
Abdallah, responding to a question on increase in drug traffickers, vowed to go after the sponsors.
“Yes, we know these traffickers have ‘big boys’ somewhere and I will go after them. If you know any, please inform NDLEA. Give us their details and see if I won’t arrest them”, he said.
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