NDLEA strengthens forensic capabilities with new laboratories

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), on Monday, said it had established two new laboratories and upgraded the existing one in Lagos, a development that would enhance accessibility, expedite timely analysis, and prosecute cases efficiently.

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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), on Monday, said it had established two new laboratories and upgraded the existing one in Lagos, a development that would enhance accessibility, expedite timely analysis, and prosecute cases efficiently.

The facilities coming after 25 years of conducting forensic analysis in a single laboratory facility in Lagos will also help fast-track other operations of the anti-narcotics agency, which has seen a surge in drug seizures over the past months.

The development is also seen breaking the agelong jinx, where the agency was using analogue in its analysis.

Femi Babafemi, Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, in a statement, said Abuja and Enugu got two additional laboratories, strategically located and equipped with state-of-the-art facilities designed to meet the highest standards of quality and safety protocols, as well as ensuring a safe working environment.

Buba Marwa, a retired Brigadier General, who is the Chairman and Chief Executive of the Agency, said, “The newly constructed laboratories will enable us to enhance our forensic analysis capabilities, increase our capacity to process cases efficiently and strengthen our fight against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking.”

He noted that while the two new facilities were set to commence operations, the existing one in Lagos had undergone a comprehensive renovation and refurbishment, transforming it into a state-of-the-art facility.

“This project was made possible through the sponsorship of the US International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) and implemented by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC),” the statement noted.

Besides equipping the laboratories with additional cutting-edge analytical instruments, the Agency in collaboration with the Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria (IPAN), also conducted the training and certification of 20 NDLEA forensic analysts, meant to empower them to sign off on drug analysis reports, thereby enhancing the Agency’s forensic capabilities.

The statement revealed that in addition to the implementation of robust quality control measures, following the Agency’s successful participation in three rounds of the UNODC International Collaborative Exercise (ICE) programme, which is an important part of International Quality Assurance Programme (IQAP) to ensure quality management systems, accuracy and reliability of results.

Marwa commended officers, men and women of the Agency’s Directorate of Forensic and Chemical Monitoring for working with him to break the over 25-year jinx,

He stated that the milestone achieved in the area of forensic analysis was borne out of his commitment to equipping the laboratories with state-of-the-art instruments and developing the expertise of the Agency’s personnel to ensure accurate and reliable forensic analysis, research methodologies and tackling the challenges posed by emerging New Psychoactive Substances (NPS).

“The newly constructed drug laboratories and renovated facilities mark a significant milestone in the Agency’s history, and we are delighted about this achievement,” he added.

The Agency also received US-INL, which was donated as new advanced equipment to the Agency to enhance the operations of the NDLEA forensic lab in Lagos.

The handover of the spectroscopy device was done by the Director of INL in Nigeria, Candace Spradley, who commended the collaboration between NDLEA and the INL. She said the donated equipment would enhance the Agency’s capacity to detect and analyse suspicious substances.

A team of top officials of the Agency, who received the US delegation and the equipment at the Ikoyi Lagos headquarters annex of NDLEA, was led by the Director, Seaport Operations, Omolade Faboyede.

Others include Patricia Afolabi, Director, Forensic and Chemical Monitoring, Deputy Director Media and Advocacy, Rita Okpere; Head, Special Operations Unit, Akinola Idowu Grace and Commander, Lagos State Strategic Command of the Agency, Abubakar Liman Wali, among others.

BusinessDay