The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration in the fight against drug trafficking, copyright piracy and other forms of organised crime in Nigeria.
According to an official signed statement by the Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, the agreement was signed on Friday, 17 July 2026, at the NDLEA Headquarters in Abuja, where both agencies committed to intelligence sharing, joint operations, capacity building and technical cooperation to dismantle criminal networks operating across multiple illicit enterprises.
The statement said Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), described the partnership as a strategic response to the growing links between drug trafficking and other organised crimes, including the piracy of intellectual property.
Marwa noted that criminal syndicates involved in narcotics trafficking often engage in copyright piracy, using proceeds from one illegal enterprise to finance another. He said the Memorandum of Understanding provides a framework for intelligence exchange, coordinated operations and the establishment of a Joint Working Committee to drive implementation.
He said the collaboration goes beyond law enforcement, stressing that it is aimed at protecting public health, preserving Nigeria’s creative industry and disrupting the financial networks that sustain organised crime.
The statement added that Marwa commended the Nigerian Copyright Commission for recognising the nexus between drug trafficking and piracy, describing the initiative as an example of effective inter-agency cooperation.
Also speaking at the ceremony, the Director-General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission, Dr. John Asein, described the alliance as a significant milestone in strengthening collaboration among government institutions to combat organised crime.
Asein said copyright piracy is a highly organised criminal enterprise that deprives creators of legitimate income, undermines investment, destroys jobs and weakens Nigeria’s creative economy. He noted that international experience has shown strong links between piracy syndicates and networks involved in narcotics trafficking, money laundering, smuggling and cyber-enabled crimes.
According to the statement, Asein said the partnership would enable both agencies to combine their intelligence and operational capabilities to identify criminal networks, trace illicit financial flows, disrupt illegal supply chains and dismantle organised criminal enterprises.
He also praised the NDLEA’s intelligence-led approach to law enforcement, describing the agency as a model of professionalism and operational excellence in the fight against organised crime.
