News briefing – Week of 7 November

15 alleged organized crime figures accused of smuggling drugs from South America were arrested by the Italian police. The target was a ring which was reportedly sending drugs from Colombia to Spain, and then into Italy. The investigation was a joint effort of Italian State and financial police, and Drug Enforcement Administration officials in the…

Deux cellules aéroportuaires anti-trafics (CAAT) installées au Cameroun dans le cadre de la lutte contre le trafic international de drogue

L’ONUDC et le gouvernement du Cameroun ont officiellement inauguré à Yaoundé deux Cellules aéroportuaires anti-trafics (CAAT) des aéroports internationaux de Yaoundé et Douala. Les cellules anti-trafics ont pour objectif de contrer le trafic international de drogue par le renforcement des capacités de détection et d’interdiction aux aéroports, ainsi comme des capacités en matière d’investigations post-saisies.…

News Briefings – Week of 21 March

The Spanish police arrested a number of Dutch citizens smuggling between Malaga and the Netherlands. More than 500 kilos of drugs were seized. In total the Spanish police seized 242.7 kilos of marijuana and 420 kilos of hashish. A recent report on drug trafficking in Venezuelan border state Zulia draws attention to a key cocaine corridor that…

News Briefing – Week of 14 March

Officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested four Mexican citizens accused of being responsible of the establishment of a massive lab for the production of methamphetamines in Delta. Four Nigerians, suspected of owning the facility, were detained as well. The drugs were reportedly destined to Singapore and Malaysia. Colombia’s government will…

News Briefing – Week of 29 February

The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), the body responsible for overseeing implementation of UN drug accords, released its last report. The Report contains chapters on the health and welfare of mankind and the international drug control system. According to the 2016 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR), Belize has become a transshipment point for marijuana…

News Briefing – Week of 8 February

Barbados is now better equipped to fight transnational organised crime and boost its drug interdiction capacities following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for the implementation of AIRCOP. An INTERPOL operation named “Operation Adwenpa” to strengthen border controls along the Abidjan-Lagos corridor has resulted in major seizures of drugs, stolen cars, currency, firearms and…

News Briefing – Week of 1 February

Nigerian Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, has accused a number of prominent Nigerians of “cooling down” the war against corruption that President Muhammadu Buhari has undertaken after his election. Osinbajo declared that, despite the pressure made by some members of the Nigerian elite, the administration will keep focusing on the needs of the masses. The Argentinian…

News Briefing – Week of 25 January

Ghana, Benin and Senegal are proposing a progressive approach to drugs in line with the AU Common African Position for UNGASS 2016. Rather than focusing on disproportionate law enforcement and repression, this common position will emphasise harm reduction over punitive measures. Ghana is currently reviewing its drug law, and it has set up an inter-ministerial…