Regional Twinning Mission capacity building and operational cooperation to address NPS trafficking in Central Africa
Photo: Theory and practice of IONICS and GRIDS Intel tools by participants
4-7 July 2023, Yaoundé, Cameroon - The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) Global Rapid Interdiction of Dangerous Substances (GRIDS) Programme organized a regional twinning programme hosted by the Cameroon Police to train and strengthen information sharing and actionable intelligence development among law enforcement officers from Cameroon and the Republic of Congo (Congo-Brazzaville).
Photo: Exercises in Safe handling of dangerous substances and PPE wearing.
The four-day twinning-training programme provided capacity building activities to the law enforcement officers from Cameroon and Congo on INCB's proprietary tools that facilitate real-time information sharing and develop actionable intelligence to promote collaboration among relevant authorities and consequently address NPS trafficking in the region of Central Africa. Mr. Amari Bedi Olivier, the GRIDS Regional Technical Officers (RTO) for West and Central Africa, delivered training on the effective use of Project ION Incident Communication System (IONICS) and the GRIDS Intelligence HD targeting tools for sharing information and facilitating investigation. The participants also attended the session on awareness raising and safe handling approaches to effectively respond to the threat of new psychotropic substances (NPS), non-medical synthetic opioids, and other fentanyl-related substances. The participants presented their current efforts on tackling NPS in their respective countries. As part of the programme, INCB also organized field visits to strategical control points including the Joint Airport Inter-Agencies Task Force (JAITF), the cargo section at the Yaoundé International Airport and the Cameroon postal service (CAMPOST).
Photo: Visit to the JAITF and cargo of the Yaoundé International Airport. visitparticipants
This INCB twinning programme provided a good opportunity for officers from the two participating countries to interact with each other and exchange their respective experiences for better regional operational collaboration. The networks facilitated through this mission is expected to contribute to improved monitoring and response to NPS trafficking in the Central African region.
The event was successfully organized, with committed support from the Cameroon Police and CAMPOST. The event's closing ceremony was presided by the Deputy Director of the Judicial Police of Cameroon.
Photo: Visit to Campost
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.
This event was made possible through generous support from the Government of the United States.
Click here to learn more about the GRIDS Programme
Click here to learn more about the OPIOIDS Project
Click here to learn more about the Project ION