UNODC and others review strategy against transnational organized crime – News – The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has called for continued cooperation among stakeholders to curb transnational organized crime by country of origin, transit and destination.

UNODC Deputy Country Representative Danilo Campisi said cooperation between countries to tackle the threat of cross-border crimes is essential as it provides an opportunity to share experiences and best practices between law enforcement bodies charged with the task of tackling such crimes. to fight.

He made this known at the ongoing annual meeting of the Global Program on Criminal Network Disruption (GPCD) for Disrupting Criminal Networks operating along illicit trafficking routes (CRIIMJUST), part of, organized in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) ECOWAS and funded by the European Union (EU) and the US Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) in Abuja.

He noted that “CRIMJUST is one of several UNODC programs being designed to address the phenomenon of transnational crime. It connects different regions, such as Latin America, West Africa and Europe, and connects practitioners and researchers to exchange experiences and best practices in the fight against organized crime.”

Global Coordinator of the Program Mario, said: “What we are trying to do in CRIMJUST is to connect countries of origin, transit and destination of illicit trade goods, mainly drugs, so that prosecutors and investigators can connect intercontinentally and cooperate in joint investigations and prosecutions.

“What we are also trying to do is to improve the application of the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and all the instruments provided for in the Convention, such as joint investigation teams, special investigative techniques and others, and we use the annual meetings to connect Nigeria with other partners and we hope that the meeting will be fruitful in that regard.”

Speaking on the efforts of the Federal Government in combating illicit drug trafficking, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohammed Marwa (rtd), said the NDLEA has recorded achievements in recent times.

“In three years, we have recorded the arrest of 52,901 traffickers, including 51 drug lords, and have convictions of 9,034 of the perpetrators,” he said.

“Within the same period, we also seized more than 8,608,516,305 kg (8,608 tons) of illicit drugs and destroyed 1,057 hectares of cannabis plantations.”

Committee on Human Development and Social Affairs of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Professor Fatou Sow-Sarr, represented by Daniel Amankwaah, expressed concern over the evolving nature of cross-border crimes, despite intensive efforts to combat such as medicines

Sow-Sarr said: “The emergence of new psychotropic substances, the complicated nature of the drug situation and the threats posed by illicit drug trafficking and related crimes call for greater cooperation.

She assures the West African agency’s commitment to further cooperation to expand and cover more joint activities.

Earlier, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation and Head of the Political, Press and Information Department of the Nigeria Office, Zissimos Vergos, pointed out that the EU is committed to working with like-minded partners in combating and destabilizing organized human trafficking networks.

According to him, CRIMJUST is essential for dispelling organized crime networks.

“We must recognize that Nigeria plays an important role in this regard and that the EU has strengthened Nigeria’s efforts in this area,” Vergos said.