SEACOP took part in the seminar dedicated to the fight against international drug trafficking by sea which was held in Dakar from 4 to 8 July.
Organised by MILDECA – the interministerial mission for the fight against drugs and addictive behaviours, the event brought together representatives from many West African countries such as Cape Verde, Ghana, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Benin and Togo, among others, as well as from Brazil.
At the request of the Regional Drug Enforcement Officer (ODL) of the French Embassy, SEACOP Regional Coordinator Wiart Eric presented the targeting and control of ships (unchannelled, i.e. not containers), a vector used by criminal organisations to transport drugs between #LatinAmerica and West #Africa.
After reviewing the various seizures of narcotics products over the last three years and the concealment methods used (Eser, La Rosa, Adaccious, Rona, Asso 6, etc.), Mr Wiart explained the issues involved in identifying vessels in ports or at anchor that are likely to be involved in illegal trafficking.
The afternoon was then devoted to a partial search of a bulk cargo ship, the Bald Eagle, coming from Brazil, which was unloading its load of rice in the port of Dakar.
The intervention was an opportunity to promote the Dakar JMCU, trained and equipped with the support of the SEACOP action.
