The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has participated in a high-level France–Nigeria strategic dialogue aimed at strengthening cooperation against transnational illicit drug trafficking and related crimes.
The dialogue, held at the Embassy of France in Nigeria, brought together key national and international stakeholders from law enforcement, regulatory, and security agencies.
The forum was themed “Trends, Gaps and Opportunities to Strengthen Nigeria’s Response to Transnational Illicit Drug Trafficking and Related Crimes.”
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, was represented at the event by the Customs Area Controller, Apapa Command, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba.
Opening the dialogue, the Ambassador of France to Nigeria, Marc Fonbaustier, emphasised the need for sustained international cooperation, effective intelligence sharing, and stronger institutional synergy to combat cross-border drug trafficking and organised crime.
During a panel session, Comptroller Oshoba responded to questions from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on the successes recorded by the Nigeria Customs Service in intercepting illicit drugs at ports and prosecuting offenders.
He attributed the achievements to effective leadership, enhanced inter-agency collaboration, and the legal framework provided by the Nigeria Customs Service Act.
Oshoba noted that gains recorded under the immediate past Comptroller-General are being consolidated under the current leadership of Adewale Adeniyi, guided by the Service’s core mandates of collaboration, innovation, and consolidation.
He highlighted strategic partnerships with agencies such as the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Nigeria Police Force, INTERPOL, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, and the Nigeria Forensic Intelligence Agency, describing them as critical to intelligence-led operations and successful prosecutions.
He further stressed Customs’ frontline role at seaports, airports, and land borders, adding that capacity building, deployment of modern technology, and intelligence-driven enforcement have significantly enhanced the Service’s ability to disrupt drug trafficking networks.
In his keynote address, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Major General Buba Marwa (Rtd.), acknowledged the support of INTERPOL and other international partners and commended improved inter-agency collaboration in strengthening border security and drug control efforts.
Participants at the interactive session identified key challenges, including manpower gaps, the need for stronger political will, and improved transparency within the justice system.
They agreed that addressing these issues would significantly strengthen Nigeria’s collective response to organised crime.
In his closing remarks, Ambassador Fonbaustier thanked participants for their contributions and reaffirmed France’s commitment to sustained engagement and future strategic dialogues with Nigeria in the fight against transnational crime.