US Applauds NDLEA Over Huge Drug Busts, Pledges Deeper Ties
ABUJA, NIGERIA — The United States International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Bureau (INL) has praised the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for its recent historic operational breakthroughs, promising expanded technical and logistical support to dismantle international drug syndicates.
The commendation was delivered on Thursday, August 20, 2026, by the newly appointed INL Country Director in Nigeria, Mr. Derek Tolliver.
Tolliver led a high-powered delegation from the US Government Accountability Office to meet with NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
US Hails NDLEA’s ‘Phenomenal’ Growth
Speaking during the courtesy visit, Tolliver lauded Marwa’s transformative leadership, noting that the agency’s rapid evolution and continuous string of high-profile seizures have caught global attention. “I want to say big congratulations on all the successes over the past months under your leadership,” Tolliver stated. “It is phenomenal how much this organization has grown, and the accolades that are now shown in the media. We want to continue the great work and build upon our previous INL programs here.”
How US Tech Exposed Deadly Fentanyl Lab in Ogun Forest
Responding, Marwa attributed a significant portion of the NDLEA’s recent victories to the advanced forensic infrastructure and operational vehicles provided by the US government. He revealed a chilling recent discovery made possible entirely by US-donated laboratory equipment. During the dismantlement of a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory hidden deep inside an Ogun State forest two months ago, forensic scientists detected highly dangerous materials.
Advanced forensic testing identified a specific precursor chemical used exclusively to manufacture fentanyl—a synthetic opioid 50 times more potent than heroin. Marwa explained that without the high-tech equipment supplied by the INL, the deadly chemical would have gone completely undetected among the seized materials.
A Critical Infrastructure Partnership
The NDLEA boss detailed how US support has fundamentally decentralized and modernized Nigeria’s drug-testing capabilities.
Nigeria previously relied on a single forensic lab in Lagos. The INL has since modernized the Lagos facility and equipped two brand-new laboratories in Abuja (serving the North) and Enugu (serving the South-East and South-South).
Speaking to the Media
US-INL commends NDLEA’s operational successes and assures more support.
How US-donated equipment helped us discover the fentanyl production chemical in Ogun Forest lab—Marwa
The International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Bureau of the United States has commended the recent operational successes of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), assuring them to build on the existing partnership between the Agency and INL.
The commendation was given by the Country Director of INL Nigeria, Mr. Derek Tolliver, when he led a delegation from the US Government Accountability Office on a meeting with the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), at the Agency’s headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, 20th August 2026.
While appreciating Marwa for taking the time to meet with his delegation, Tolliver said
“The purpose of this meeting was to make the initial introductions and to let you know that I’m here. We want to continue the great work and build upon the work of our previous INL programs here. Then I am certainly looking forward to following up with the NDLEA—me and my team in our office at the US Embassy in Abuja later—to move our program goals forward.
“Lastly, I want to say big congratulations on all the successes over the past months with your leadership and under your leadership. It is phenomenal how much this organization has grown, the accolades that are now shown in the media. So, I do want to recognize that.”
In his response, Marwa congratulated Tolliver on his appointment as the Country Director of INL in Nigeria, while expressing gratitude for the enduring positive relationship between Nigeria and the US Government. He thanked the INL specifically for the immense support NDLEA has continued to receive from them and other US agencies that are supportive of the Agency, especially the DEA, AFRICOM, FBI, and others.
According to him, “I would like to state very clearly that whatever successes that we have had in this agency, the INL is part of it. No question about it. You have assisted us in the past with vehicles; we need operational vehicles to move. And I recall that in 2021, when I assumed the chairmanship of this agency, one of the earliest actions that I took was to distribute INL-provided vehicles to the commands.
“Now, the forensic labs: we used to have just the one in Lagos for the whole country. The INL modernized it with new equipment and better-constructed buildings, and on top of that, the additional forensic laboratories that were introduced here in Abuja to cater for the North and another one in Enugu to cater for the South-East and South-South, the INL supported us with some of the equipment. These forensic labs have been central to our law enforcement efforts. In fact, with the seizure about two months ago and the dismantlement of the meth lab in the deep forest of Ogun State, we relied on the forensic equipment to determine the precursor chemicals. And we discovered one of the precursor chemicals was in fact for the production of fentanyl, which is bad news. Nobody wants to hear that word. It’s bad enough to be dealing with meth laboratories, and we very much appreciate that contribution. Without these modern tools, that would have gone unnoticed because it was just a small part of the precursor chemicals. That was really very important.”
He asked for more support for NDLEA in the areas of logistics and training, among others.
Femi Babafemi
Director, Media and Advocacy
NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja
Thursday 20th August 2026
