Tunisian Gendarmerie Receive the Latest Training and Access to INCB State-of-the-Art Synthetic Drug Countertrafficking Technologies
17-18 July 2024, Tunisia - The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) Global Rapid Interdiction of Dangerous Substances (GRIDS) Programme organized a comprehensive training event that focused on awareness-raising of emerging synthetic drugs and related chemicals, detection and safe interdiction techniques, and access to the latest INCB global communications and targeting systems for 15 gendarmeries from the Tunisian National Guard, in Tunis.
The GRIDS Programme's Regional Technical Officer, Mr. Ahmed El Deib noted the importance of providing real tools in real-time so that frontline officers can quickly identify and interdict synthetic drug trafficking in his opening remarks. Mr. El Deib stated, "It takes a network to defeat a network" referring to the support to the Government of Tunisia from the INCB dedicated officer located in 7 regions round the world.
Photo: Officers receive classroom exercises identifying emerging patterns, paired with practical training and access to INCB proprietary systems
The two-day event delivered a comprehensive training that included theoretical classroom instruction, practical online targeting and use of safety and drug testing equipment provided by INCB. This was paired with access on the IONICS Suite of tools, including Project ION Incident Communication System (IONICS), GRIDS Strategic Intelligence, Operational Intel HD and the new CHEMPROFILER tool, crucial for bolstering both domestic and international trafficking investigations. Furthermore, a practical session on identification and safe interdiction of synthetic opioids, fentanyls and related chemicals and exercises with INCB provided personal protective equipment (PPE) served to reinforce officers' knowledge, skills and abilities to safety adhere to fundamental interdiction approaches. All references materials are made available to officers in French, Arabic and English, and were also accessible on mobile platforms via the INCB's E-Learning Individual Training Environment (ELITE) system.
Photo: Officers receive in-person training and resources in localized languages
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 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 and the Global Coalition to Address the Threat of Synthetic Drugs.
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