Twinning Mission for Law Enforcement officers from Jordan and Morocco
14-15 November 2023 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) Global Rapid Interdiction of Dangerous Substances (GRIDS) Programme conducted a dynamic twinning mission, bringing together five law enforcement officers in total from Jordan and Morocco to tackle the challenges posed by New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) and non-medical synthetic opioids.
During the two-day programme, participants conducted strategic site visits to key institutions, including Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Interior and the Naif Arab University for Security and Sciences. These visits offered firsthand insights into operational strategies and challenges related to combating NPS and synthetic opioids.
Officers from the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Regional Intelligence and Liaison Office (RILO) Middle East, located in the Saudi Customs, also contributed to the event by delivering a presentation and engaging in discussions about possible future collaboration. This enriched the dialogue and enhanced the potential for strengthened regional cooperation.
The GRIDS Programme facilitated the exchange of experiences and knowledge, fostering international cooperation as officers shared challenges, successes, and best practices.
This twinning mission served as a driving force for international cooperation, uniting law enforcement agencies in need of a unified and effective response against the evolving threats of illicit substances. The involvement of Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Interior and the Naif Arab University for Security and Sciences, along with insights from the RILO Middle East, further strengthened this momentum, establishing lasting connections among the participating agencies.
As the participants return to their countries armed with new insights and a network of international colleagues, the impact of this twinning program is set to resonate in ongoing global efforts to combat the illicit trade of NPS and synthetic opioids.
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 of America. This event was made possible through generous support from the United States of America's Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.
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Click here to learn more about the OPIOIDS Project
Click here to learn more about the Project ION