The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration in tackling drug trafficking, copyright piracy, and other forms of organised crime across Nigeria.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Friday by the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.
Speaking during the signing ceremony at the NDLEA headquarters on Friday, July 17, 2026, the agency’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), said the partnership reflects the growing need for government agencies to work together against interconnected criminal activities.
Marwa explained that investigations have shown that criminal syndicates involved in drug trafficking are often also engaged in copyright piracy and other economic crimes. He noted that proceeds from one illegal activity frequently fund another, making coordinated efforts essential to dismantling such networks.
According to him, the MoU provides a framework for intelligence sharing, joint operations, capacity building, and technical cooperation between both agencies. He added that a Joint Working Committee would be established to oversee the implementation of the agreement and ensure tangible results.
Marwa stressed that the partnership extends beyond law enforcement, describing it as a commitment to protecting public health, safeguarding Nigeria’s creative industry, and shielding society from the harmful effects of illicit drugs and piracy.
He also commended the Nigerian Copyright Commission for recognising the link between drug trafficking and intellectual property crimes, describing the collaboration as a model of effective inter-agency cooperation.
In his remarks, the Director-General of the NCC, Dr. John Asein, described the alliance as a major milestone in strengthening collaboration within Nigeria’s public service.
Asein noted that large-scale copyright piracy is not a harmless commercial offence but a well-organised criminal enterprise that deprives creators of legitimate income, destroys jobs, discourages investment, reduces government revenue, and weakens the country’s creative economy.
He further explained that international experience has shown that piracy networks often overlap with other organised crimes, including drug trafficking, money laundering, smuggling, and cyber-related offences. According to him, the same transportation routes, storage facilities, financial channels, and distribution systems used for illicit drugs are frequently utilised for distributing pirated books, films, music, software, and other copyrighted materials.
The NCC boss said the partnership would enable both agencies to combine their expertise and intelligence capabilities to identify criminal networks, track illicit financial flows, disrupt illegal supply chains, and dismantle organised crime syndicates more effectively.
He also praised the NDLEA’s intelligence-led approach to law enforcement, noting that the agency has earned local and international recognition for its professionalism, operational excellence, forensic capabilities, strategic investigations, financial intelligence, surveillance, and effective inter-agency and international cooperation.