No fewer than 35 officers of the Marine Command and Seaports Operations of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have undergone diverse training organised by the United Kingdom Home Office International Operations (HOIO).

Of the number, five are currently undergoing a two-week Maritime Patrol and Tactical Coxswain training by the UK’s Central Maritime Training Unit based in Southampton.

The training, according to the HOIO, are to enhance the border control capabilities of the NDLEA by providing specialised training, mentoring, and advanced drug detection equipment.

The important areas covered so far included boat handling, weapons handling, riverine operations, boarding, and vessel search, among many others.

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According to a statement issued on Saturday by the NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, some of the training have been facilitated by the British Military, Nigerian Navy, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) under the Global Maritime Crime Programme (GMCP).

Babafemi noted that the ongoing two-week training of five NDLEA marine officers including their first female coxswain will enable them to plan maritime deployments, pursue, stop, and board vessels on the high seas.

While thanking the UK government for its continued support and commitment in helping the NDLEA to enhance its capacity and capabilities to tackle drug trafficking, the NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), urged the officers to remain steadfast in their professional calling and ensure they bring to bear the essence of the training on their formations and colleagues.

Marwa assured them that he will continue to prioritise training and retraining for all officers of the agency.

On his part, the Home Office International Operations Regional Manager for West Africa, Kris Hawksfield, stated that HOIO was immensely proud and honoured to work with and support the work of NDLEA.

Hawksfield added that the UK remains committed to strengthening the mutually beneficial work of the agency to interdict, seize, and destroy illicit substances and drugs which would otherwise harm Nigeria and the UK.

The Star