The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen the fight against drug trafficking and copyright piracy in Nigeria.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), signed the agreement at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja on Friday, July 17, 2026.
He said both agencies now recognise that organised criminal groups often combine drug trafficking with piracy and other economic crimes.
Marwa said the same syndicates that traffic narcotics also steal the work of musicians, filmmakers, writers and software developers. He explained that money from one illegal business often funds another, making stronger cooperation necessary.
He said the MoU will help both agencies share intelligence, carry out joint operations, train officers and provide technical support.
He added that a Joint Working Committee will meet regularly to ensure the agreement delivers practical results.
Marwa stressed that the partnership goes beyond law enforcement. He said it will protect Nigerians from illicit drugs while also defending the country’s creative industry from piracy.
He praised the NCC for recognising the link between both crimes and said government agencies achieve better results when they work together.
NCC Director-General, Dr. John Asein, described the alliance as a major step in inter-agency collaboration. He said the partnership will strengthen efforts to protect national security, economic growth and the rule of law.
Asein said many people wrongly see copyright piracy as a minor offence. He noted that organised piracy robs creators and investors of income, destroys jobs, discourages investment, reduces government revenue and weakens Nigeria’s creative economy.
He said international experience shows that piracy syndicates often share logistics, financial channels and distribution networks with drug traffickers, money launderers, smugglers and cybercriminals.
He added that the same transport routes, storage facilities and supply chains can move both illicit drugs and pirated books, films, music and software.
Asein said closer cooperation between the NDLEA and NCC will help both agencies identify criminal networks, trace illegal funds, disrupt supply chains and dismantle organised crime.
He also praised the NDLEA’s intelligence-led operations, forensic expertise, surveillance, financial intelligence and international cooperation under Marwa’s leadership.
External Links
NDLEA Official Website: https://ndlea.gov.ng/
Nigerian Copyright Commission: https://copyright.gov.ng/
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC): https://www.unodc.org/
