On the 8th and 9th of March, MAOC (N) organized a high-level conference on West Africa and the Gulf of Guinea, bringing together high-level officers from relevant countries within the sub-region and Europe, to openly discuss and examine the existing challenges regarding maritime interceptions and the boarding of vessels suspected of engaging in illicit drug trafficking by sea.
The lack of assets to counter the assessed number of successful maritime trans-shipments of drugs from South America, notably Brazil, into the West African Coast is currently one the most significant challenges concerning this region from a law enforcement point of view. During the two days of the event, participants were able to identify possible solutions and opportunities for enhanced cooperation and coordination among countries in West Africa (WA) and between WA and MAOC (N) partner countries.
The conference brought together high-level Navy and Law Enforcement (Drugs) representatives from Ghana, Senegal, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Nigeria and Brazil, also including representatives from INTERPOL, the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and MAOC (N).
