A year after the signature of a MoU aimed at building the country’s capacities to combat maritime trafficking, the Gambia is receiving its second training, this time focused on maritime intelligence (05-09/02/2024).
“This training is targeted at the Maritime Intelligence Unit, which was created with the support of SEACOP last year. The objective of such a unit is to strengthen the interdiction capacities of local players, and their ability to cooperate with regional partners and networks,” explains SEACOP Regional Coordinator for West Africa Laurent Rinjonneau.
The choice of Banjul, Gambia, for this very first training of SEACOP’s newly launched 6th phase in West Africa is strategic as Gambia is a country exposed to various forms of maritime trafficking.
â›´Throughout this week, 10 attendees from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) who have been selected to form the Intelligence Unit will receive a first level training aimed at coordinating maritime information processing activities with the local maritime control unit’s vessel control initiatives.
This initial course, which will develop the capacity to manage the risks associated particularly with narcotics and timber traffiking, is supported by analysts from Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre (Narcotics) – MAOC (N) and Yaris experts.
💡 YARIS Platform is a comprehensive system that contributes to maritime domain surveillance and maritime crisis management, and facilitates the legal aspects of evidence.
The training was officially opened on Monday, in the presence of the head of Intelligence and International Cooperation of Gambia’s NDLEA and a representative of the European Union Delegation. They welcomed the holding of this course, encouraging those involved in the new unit to develop their skills.
