The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has launched two new state-of-the-art forensic laboratories in Abuja and Enugu, and upgraded its longstanding Lagos lab, marking a historic expansion after over 25 years of operating a single facility.

NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), described the development as “a significant milestone in the agency’s history,” noting that it will improve case processing, forensic analysis, and bolster the fight against drug trafficking and substance abuse.

The upgrade, supported by the US International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (US-INL) and implemented by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, includes advanced lab equipment and trained personnel. Twenty analysts have been certified by the Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria to sign off on drug analysis reports.

US-INL also donated a new spectroscopy device to the Lagos lab, which was handed over by its Director in Nigeria, Ms. Candace Spradley, who said, “The donated equipment will significantly enhance the agency’s capacity to detect and analyse suspicious substances.”

Marwa reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to modern, research-driven strategies to address drug crimes, particularly the rise of new psychoactive substances.