UNODC organized a subregional workshop in Niamey, from 16 to 18 April 2018, to strengthen the dynamics of the fight against the smuggling of migrants in Mali, Morocco and Niger, three particularly affected countries. Each of the delegations presented the progress and challenges encountered in the establishment and strengthening of national structures to combat the smuggling of migrants. Read more

Operationalization of the Police component of the G5 Sahel Joint Force

The Nigerien G5 Sahel Presidency, supported by UNODC, organized a workshop on the operationalization of the Police component of the Joint Force from 10 to 12 April 2018, in Niamey in Niger, to discuss the operationalization of the Joint Force police component and the assistance that can be provided by the technical and financial partners in this area. Read more

UNODC supports Mali in the fight against trafficking in persons

In order to enhance Mali's response to trafficking in persons and related practices, the National Coordination Committee, in collaboration with UNODC and IOM, organized a national workshop to assess the impact of the previous National Action Plan (2015-2017) and to develop a new one for 2018-2022. The workshop took placein Sikasso Mali, from 19 to 23 March 2018. Read more

First objectives achieved for the SCP of the G5 Sahel

Since January 2018, G5 Sahel countries have exchanged information on the fight against transnational organized crime and terrorism for the first time in a systematic and institutionalized way in this region, thanks to the SCP, a regional police cooperation mechanism, supported by UNODC, and adopted in November 2015 by the Heads of States of the G5 Sahel. Read more

UNODC deploys a Mobile training Unit in Ghana to fight against drug trafficking

The Republic of Ghana has been the first country to benefit from a Mobile Training Unit intended for the law enforcement agencies. The deployment happened in Accra from 20 to 23 March 2018. Following an assessment visit carried out a few months ago, it was agreed that the Narcotic Control Board of Ghana (NACOB) will be the host agency of the MTU. Read more

UNODC and the WACAP study violent extremism in West Africa

UNODC and the WACAP convened a meeting in Dakar, on 20-21st March, to bring together around the table the civil society and the criminal justice to discuss on how they can better prevent and address violent extremism in Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Senegal. This meeting followed a study conducted by UNODC in these five countries during the last five months. Read more

Mali achieves positive results in the fight against fraudulent medicine

For the past 3 years, the total amount of seized fraudulent medicine by the BMI adds up to 19.88 tons. In 2018 alone, 1,8 tons were seized while the amount in 2017 alone is 9,6 tons representing over 7 million pills. UNODC continues to strengthen the capacity of Malian authorities to combat transnational organized crime. Read more

Helping the authorities in Mali go after the terrorists' money

Mali is facing a unique combination of threats associated with illicit trafficking and terrorism. Disrupting the flow of funding to terrorist groups through targeted financial sanctions is one way to reduce threats in the country. To help law enforcement agencies better understand these threats, UNODC has developed a training course on advance financial disruption techniques. Read more

UNODC strengthens its partnership with Peacekeeping Operations in the region

Building on the successes of the existing partnerships with the MINUSCA and MINUSMA, UNODC signed cooperation agreements with both organizations (7 March and 15 March 2018 respectively) to further strengthen their collaborations. These two milestone agreements are the first between UNODC and UN Peacekeeping Operations, whereby UNODC receives dedicated budgets to support the justice sector. Read more

Organization of a workshop for instructors at magistrates schools in the Sahel

Magistrates play a leading role in the fight against trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants. From 12 to 14 March 2018, UNODC organized a sub-regional workshop in Dakar to train 30 instructors from magistrates schools of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger on the judicial treatment of offenses related to trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants. Read more

The UNODC Sahel Programme holds its 3rd Steering Committee meeting

The Sahel Programme held its 3rd Steering Committee meeting in Dakar from the 6 to 8 March 2018. Representatives of the States of the Sahel, the G5 Sahel Permanent Secretariat, UNODC Regional Offices and Headquarters took the opportunity to refocus the strategy of the Programme and to update the priorities in the fight against terrorism and TOC. Read more

UNODC encourages Women Empowerment in West Africa

Socio-cultural barriers and gender inequalities are deeply entrenched in West African societies. To mark the 2018 International Women's Day, UNODC takes the opportunity to remind the importance of encouraging the participation of women in law enforcement and justice sectors and to promote gender equality and empowerment of women in the region. Read more

Sahel: Governments achieve positive results with UN Support

Despite numerous challenges and threats, Sahelian governments remain committed to developing their criminal justice systems against illicit trafficking, organized crime and terrorism. The United Nation Office on Drugs and Crime Sahel Programme has been committed to assisting Sahelian governments in creating this positive change in the region. Read more

Sub-Regional Train-the-Trainers Workshop on Human Rights

UNODC organized, in collaboration with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, a sub-regional train-the-trainers (ToT) workshop, in Dakar, Senegal, on human rights, from 26 February to 2 March, in Dakar. The workshop is the first in a series of three ToT courses on human rights and the criminal justice responses to terrorism. Read more

Senegal: Launch of the first West African University Course in Addictology

UNODC supported the establishment of the first University Degree in Addictology in West Africa by the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Dakar. The main objective of this speciality is to increase the quality of human resources dealing with drug users health care in respect of their human rights. The inaugural lecture took place on February 28, 2018. Read more

Launch of a new Project against Child Begging in Senegal

On 27 February 2018, UNODC, USAID and the municipalities of Medina, Gueule Tapée Fass Colobane, Diameguene Sicap Mbao and Pikine Nord, jointly launched the Phase II of the Project against Child Begging during a big event in Pikine Nord. The Project seeks implementation of local actions in order to reduce and eradicate child begging in Dakar region. Read more

Cabo Verde cooperates with Portugal to strengthen its juvenile justice system

New trends and patterns of violence and crime have emerged in Cabo-Verde posing new challenges to both society and authorities, including related to children and minors. In this context, UNODC organized a mission in Portugal, in February, with a delegation from Cabo Verde in order to exchanges good practices thus strengthening juvenile justice system. Read more

600 detainees assisted by the UNVs of UNODC in Niger

Since July 2017, the United Nations Volunteers (UNV), recruited and trained by UNODC, have provided legal aid to more than 600 detainees suspected of terrorism in the prisons of Niamey, Kollo and Koutoukalé in Niger. The effectiveness of a legal response to terrorism heavily depends on the respect of basic human rights of detainees suspected in terrorism cases. Read more

UNODC Sahel Programme reaches 10,000 beneficiaries

By providing legislative and technical assistance, the United Nation Office on Drugs and Crime Sahel Programme strengthens the capacities of relevant national and regional authorities. Since its launch in 2014, the UNODC Sahel Programme has implemented more than 400 activities reaching 10,000 direct beneficiaries in the Sahelian region Read more

West African CSOs coordinate against drug abuse

The United Nation Office on Drugs and Crime and ECOWAS organized a workshop in Abuja, from 7th to 9th January 2018 to "Building CSOs Capacity for Substance Use Prevention and Care in ECOWAS member states and Mauritania". The workshop provided skills and knowledge to develop and carry out effective evidence-based prevention interventions. Read more

Signature of a Letter of Agreement for the establishment of a JAITF at Maputo airport

The government of Mozambique and UNODC have signed a letter of Agreement for the establishment of a Joint Airport Interdiction Task Force (JAITF) at Maputo airport. Mozambique will become the 16th country in Africa to launch the establishment of a Task Force in the framework of the Airport Communication Project (AIRCOP). Read more

UNODC sounds the alarm on the increase in trafficking and consumption of tramadol

UNODC warns the international community on the implications of non-medical use of tramadol on the economies and security of West Africa, and the Middle East and its broader linkages with the global fight against terrorism and TOC. Abusive consumption and trafficking of tramadol play a direct role in the destabilization of the region. Read more

Ghana: Investigations Handbook for Drug Law Enforcement

The United Nation Office on Drugs and Crime has developed a investigations Handbook to strengthen the capacity of Ghana's law enforcement agencies in the fight against drug trafficking. This Handbook was officially presented in Accra on February 8, 2018 by the General Director of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Police. Read more

Train the trainer workshop in Niger and Mali

UNODC organized a training of trainers on investigation and prosecution of terrorism cases for instructors at police and gendarmerie national training institutes in Niger, from 23 to 26 January, and in Mali. from 30 January to 2 February.The instructors received a training on how to deliver the new curriculum on terrorism prevention. Read more

UNODC facilitates cooperation between the G5 Sahel and the Maghreb

UNODC organized a Forum to promote South-South cooperation between the Maghreb and Sahel countries in their fight against illicit trafficking and transnational organized crime. This cooperation and exchange of information becomes crucial as the security threats are becoming more complex and transnational in nature. Read more

2017 : positive results in the fight against firearms trafficking and for AIRCOP

In 2017, the G5 Sahel states, particularly Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, have achieved substantial results in the fight against the trafficking of firearms and with the AIRCOP project. On one side, 35,777 firearms have been marked. On the other side, JAITFs officials in Bamako, Niamey and Ouagadougou international airports seized 20.91 kg of cocaine, among other. Read more