Abuja, Nigeria – Thailand’s government has commended the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for its success in curbing drug trafficking, leading to a significant decrease in the number of Nigerians incarcerated in Thai prisons.
During a courtesy visit to NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), Mr. Kriwat Pharmorabuta, Charge d’Affaires of the Royal Thai Embassy in Nigeria, highlighted the positive impact of the NDLEA’s work. “There were around 800 Nigerian prisoners in Thailand before,” Pharmorabuta stated. “Now, the number is less than 200. This is a great achievement for Nigeria’s image internationally.”
Pharmorabuta also applauded Marwa’s leadership, crediting him for the NDLEA’s recent strides. He expressed his delight at the ongoing partnership between the Thai embassy and NDLEA regarding visa clearance procedures. Thailand places significant value on the NDLEA’s clearance certificates, he revealed. “A Nigerian with a valid NDLEA certificate has a 90-95% chance of obtaining a Thai visa,” Pharmorabuta noted.
He further pledged to strengthen collaboration between NDLEA and its Thai counterparts, fostering training opportunities and scholarships for NDLEA personnel. Marwa welcomed this offer, particularly in the area of alternative development programs.
“We have established an Alternative Development Unit to encourage cannabis growers to transition to legitimate crops like rice or cocoa,” Marwa explained. “Thailand’s expertise in this area is invaluable, and we look forward to collaborating to help drug offenders find new paths.”
