President Adama Barrow Wednesday reaffirmed his Government's commitment to the fight against drug abuse and trafficking during a meeting with officials from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (DLEAG) and their Nigerian counterparts at the State House.
 

The courtesy call on President Barrow was to brief him on the MOU signed between DLEAG and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency of Nigeria (NDLEA). The MOU will strengthen collaboration between the sister countries to fight against drug abuse and trafficking within the two countries and the sub-region. Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (Rtd), Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency of Nigeria, said that the partnership's objective between the two institutions is to "stem the flow" of the trafficking in drugs.

"Drug trafficking is a threat to national security," said Gen. Marwa." If you look at West Africa now, all kinds of criminal gangs are moving from one country to another, causing great havoc and disturbing the peace. These gangs use drugs to perpetrate their evil acts and finance other criminal activities." General Marwa noted that it is crucial for The Gambia and the Federal Republic of Nigeria to "collaborate and cooperate to ...eliminate drug cartels in our countries."
 

Bakary Gassama, Director General of the Drug Law Enforcement Agency, The Gambia (DLEAG), said it is vital for countries to fight against drug trafficking and other organized crimes in the sub-region. He added that the DLEAG would benefit a lot from this partnership with Nigeria.