Multi-Agency Networking and Capacity Building to Combat Emerging Synthetic Opioids and New Psychoactive Substance Trafficking in West Africa
23-27 January 2023 Niamey, Niger -The International Narcotic Control Board's (INCB) Global Rapid Interdiction of Dangerous Substances (GRIDS) Programme delivered a training to combat trafficking in new psychotropic substances (NPS), synthetic opioids and other dangerous substances to 22 officers from Côte d'Ivoire, Benin and Niger in partnership with the UNODC Nigeria Organized Crime: West African Response to trafficking (OCWAR-T) project. The training focused on approaches and tools to enhance the regional and global exchange of information and intelligence-led targeting, as well as a hands-on approach for the protection of frontline officers and detection of dangerous synthetic opioids in the field.
Ambassador Strammer Geza on behalf of the EU, Ambassador Guillaume N'Dri Gnamien on behalf of ECOWAS and the Deputy Director of Niger Central Office for the Repression of Illicit Drug Trafficking Commissioner Nouhou Rabiou jointly opened the event. The ambassadors emphasized the importance of addressing NPS trafficking in the region and thanked the INCB Secretariat for their collaboration with the OCWAR-T project. The Deputy Director of OCRTIS noted the relevance of this training event at a time when Niger is experiencing a serious security crisis fueled by the trafficking of emerging dangerous substances and remarked that this event act as a starting point of a longer collaboration with the INCB GRIDS programme.
Photo: Officers from Côte d'Ivoire, Benin and Niger received practical training on INCB secure communication and targeting platforms
Mr. Amari Bedi Olivier, GRIDS Regional Technical Officer (RTO) for West and Central Africa, stated, " officers need training on effective use of Project ION Incident Communication System for information-sharing and the GRIDS Intelligence HD targeting platforms for investigative purposes if they are to combat trafficking in emerging synthetic drugs." The training built officer knowledge, skills, abilities and confidence to develop actionable intelligence among relevant authorities to address emerging NPS, synthetic opioids, and fentanyl-related substance trafficking in West Africa. The participants also received opioids safe interdiction for intelligence exchange, personal protective equipment and opioids drug testing equipment and practical exercises during the workshop."
Recent INCB special operations and real-time IONICS communications already indicate the emergence of dangerous substance trafficking through Niger and neighbouring countries, including Benin and Côte d'Ivoire. This creates conflict-forming zones in the region with Niger often listed as an origin country and neighbouring countries as destinations.
The Board's Global Rapid Interdiction of Dangerous Substances (GRIDS) Programme and Project ION and OPIOIDS Project support Governments' capacity to respond to changing trafficking, illicit manufacture, marketing and sales of NPS, non-medical synthetic opioids and fentanyl-related substances by providing real-time communication, facilitating information exchange and intelligence development that interdict distribution of dangerous substances.
The GRIDS Programme is supported by the Governments of Canada, Japan and the United States. This event was made possible through technical support of UNODC Nigeria and generous support from the Governments of the United States.
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Click here to learn more about the OPIOIDS Project
Click here to learn more about the Project ION