By By Elizabeth Ugbo
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has urged investigators and prosecutors to intensify efforts to trace and recover illicit assets linked to narcotics trafficking. NDLEA Chairman, Brig Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), gave the directive on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, in Abuja. He spoke while opening an advanced training programme on financial investigations and asset recovery. Marwa said the agency must target drug traffickers’ wealth, not arrests and drug seizures alone.
NDLEA Targets Financial Backbone of Drug Trafficking
Marwa said drug trafficking remains an economic enterprise driven by financiers and facilitators.
He noted that money launderers and professional enablers also support major drug operations.
According to him, arrests alone cannot dismantle sophisticated drug cartels.
“If we arrest the courier but leave the financier untouched, we have addressed only part of the problem,” he said.
Marwa also stressed the need to recover proceeds from criminal activities.
He said convictions should lead to the recovery of illicit wealth linked to drug trafficking.
Criminal Networks Exploit Technology
The NDLEA chairman warned that organised crime groups now use advanced methods to hide illicit wealth.
These methods include cryptocurrencies, technology and complex corporate structures.
Criminal groups also use legitimate businesses to disguise the ownership of illegal assets.
Therefore, Marwa urged NDLEA officers to develop more sophisticated financial investigation skills.
He said investigators must analyse complex transactions and trace assets across borders.
They must also establish beneficial ownership and exploit digital evidence.
Furthermore, prosecutors must build strong financial cases that can support forfeiture and recovery.
NDLEA Moves From Arrests to Asset Recovery
Marwa described financial disruption as the agency’s next major priority.
He said NDLEA has made significant progress in drug seizures and prosecutions.
However, he stressed that the agency must now dismantle the financial foundations of drug trafficking.
“Our goal is to make narcotics trafficking a high-risk, low-profit enterprise,” Marwa said.
He added that organised crime intersects with several other criminal activities.
These include money laundering, corruption, cybercrime and human trafficking.
The networks also connect with illicit arms trafficking and other organised crimes.
Consequently, he called for stronger cooperation among law enforcement institutions.
Marwa Calls for Stronger NDLEA Collaboration
The NDLEA boss urged greater cooperation among the agency’s key directorates.
He listed intelligence, investigation, prosecution and forensics among the critical units.
He also mentioned asset and financial investigation as essential parts of the enforcement chain.
Marwa said the directorates must operate as one agency.
He also called for stronger collaboration with other law enforcement bodies.
According to him, no single institution has all the information and expertise required.
Joint efforts, therefore, remain essential to tackling sophisticated criminal networks.
Experts Attend Advanced Financial Investigation Training
Marwa commended the experts who participated in the advanced capacity-building programme.
The resource persons included Judge Michael Hopmeier, a retired Southwark Crown Court Circuit Judge in the UK.
Others included Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, SAN, and Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN.
Calvin Wilson, a Global MLCFT adviser, also participated in the programme.
Jason Sandoval and Nick Francis from Asset Reality also joined the training.
Cryptocurrency experts Fernandez Marcus-Obiene and Chioma Chikelu also participated.
Representatives from sister agencies equally attended the programme.
They included the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, ICPC and Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit.
Judges from the Federal High Court also participated.
Marwa said their involvement would strengthen the connection between investigation, prosecution and adjudication.
Asset Recovery Must Include Transparency
Marwa warned that asset recovery does not end with seizure or forfeiture.
He said poor management can reduce the value of recovered assets.
A lack of transparency can also weaken public confidence in asset recovery.
Therefore, he urged officers to maintain accountability throughout the recovery process.
This should cover seizure, forfeiture, management and eventual realisation of assets.
He also urged participants to share knowledge across NDLEA directorates.
According to him, the training should produce coordinated action rather than remain individual knowledge.
Federal High Court Supports NDLEA Efforts
The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Terhemba Tsoho, also commended the NDLEA.
Justice Inyang Ekwo delivered his goodwill message at the programme.
Tsoho praised Marwa for the progress recorded under his leadership.
He also backed stronger collaboration between the Federal High Court and law enforcement agencies.
According to him, such cooperation can improve Nigeria’s reputation internationally.
He said the programme would strengthen institutional capacity in financial investigations.
It would also improve asset tracing, recovery and management.
The Chief Judge highlighted the growing complexity of drug-related crimes.
He noted that cybercurrency-enabled money laundering has expanded the criminal landscape.
Therefore, he called for effective and sophisticated law enforcement responses.
NDLEA Seeks to Follow the Money
Marwa expressed confidence that the training would strengthen the agency’s financial investigation capacity.
He said participants should become better equipped to “follow the money”.
They should identify hidden assets and strengthen financial evidence.
They should also secure forfeiture and preserve the value of recovered property.
Ultimately, the NDLEA wants to deprive drug traffickers of the wealth funding their operations.
The agency believes financial disruption can make drug trafficking less profitable.
This approach could also weaken the criminal networks behind the illegal drug trade.
