In the Egyptian capital, the Libyan Drug and Psychotropic Substances Control Apparatus formally signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on Thursday at the Libyan Delegation headquarters in Cairo. The agreement is specifically aimed at enhancing security collaboration and facilitating the exchange of expertise in combating narcotics and transnational organised crime.
The document was signed by Major General Khalid Al-Mabrouk Abdel Nabi, the head of the Libyan agency, and Jason Schumacher, the DEA’s Regional Director for the Middle East and Africa. The ceremony was attended by several Libyan officials and diplomats.
Both parties stressed that the MoU marks a strategic pivot towards establishing sustainable institutional cooperation between Libya and the United States in the narcotics control sphere. Furthermore, it reflects the keenness of the Libyan leadership to embrace positive engagement with international partnerships, serving the national interest and safeguarding societal security and stability.
The signing followed intensive coordination efforts spearheaded by the Ministry of Interior, with direct backing from the Ministers of Interior and Foreign Affairs, and notably involved Idris Thabit, Libya’s envoy to the Arab League and acting head of the Libyan Embassy in Egypt. These actions underscore the Libyan state’s drive to upgrade international security alliances to counter the scourge of drugs and protect its youth and society.
During the signing ceremony, both sides underscored the necessity of deepening the sharing of intelligence and technical know-how. They also highlighted plans to develop joint training programmes and field coordination, measures expected to significantly enhance the capabilities of Libyan security bodies in disrupting smuggling and illicit drug trafficking networks.