From 7th to 9th October 2024, CRIMJUST held its Annual Meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, bringing together the European Union, INTERPOL, key Global Illicit Flows Programme (GIFP) sister projects, and representatives from law enforcement agencies and regional prosecutor networks. Hosted at the United Nations House in Nigeria, this event aimed to strengthen international collaboration in the fight against illicit trafficking and organised crime. Funded by the European Union through the GIFP, CRIMJUST continues to play a pivotal role in enhancing transnational investigations, judicial cooperation, and law enforcement capacities across Africa, Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
The meeting opened with high-level remarks from Mrs. Nkiruka Jones-Nebo of Nigeria’s Ministry of Justice, Brigadier General Buba Marwa, Chairman of the NDLEA, and Mr. Zissimos Vergos of the EU Delegation to Nigeria. They underscored the critical role of collective efforts in tackling transnational organised crime, highlighting CRIMJUST’s success in strengthening law enforcement and achieving impactful drug seizures. Delegates also discussed the growing threats posed by organised crime and how EU-funded initiatives like CRIMJUST are providing vital technical assistance and capacity-building support to Member States in implementing UN conventions such as UNTOC.
Over three days, the meeting featured thematic panels on strategic partnerships, cross-border investigations, ethics and institutional integrity, and human rights and gender mainstreaming. Experts shared insights on leveraging joint operations, integrating financial investigations with criminal cases, and addressing emerging challenges like cryptocurrencies and illicit financial flows. Discussions also emphasised the need for sustained alliances and innovative approaches, such as artificial intelligence in asset tracking, to disrupt transnational criminal networks effectively. These sessions highlighted the GIFP’s overarching goal of fostering collaboration and advancing comprehensive strategies against organised crime.
The event concluded with a review of CRIMJUST’s achievements and a forward-looking strategy for addressing emerging threats. Representatives from UNODC, the European Union, and Nigeria’s NDLEA highlighted the significance of strengthened partnerships in combating illicit flows globally. The meeting reaffirmed the importance of interregional cooperation and innovative strategies under the GIFP to achieve long-term success in dismantling transnational criminal networks.
