The Regional Office of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) will organise a “Conference on supporting the implementation of the ECOWAS Drug Action Plan through Effective Regional Drugs Enforcement Cooperation” in Abuja from 22 to 24 November, 2016.

This conference is part of the “Support to ECOWAS regional action plan on drug trafficking, organised crime and drug abuse in West Africa” project funded by the European Union (Abuja office) and implemented by UNODC in collaboration with member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

This activity is expected to be a significant step in supporting the implementation of the ECOWAS action plan on drugs. The action plan benefits from assets and strengths that are: a confirmed political will, regional instruments, expertise from member states and financial commitment from donors.

The free movement of goods and people within the ECOWAS area, as a principle, generates economic opportunities and fuels the regional integration. But the side effects are related to increased opportunities for organised criminal groups to traffic illicit goods and engage in smuggling across borders.

Another major issue that further contributes to the current state of affair is laundering of the proceeds of criminal activities, especially across borders.

This conference is designed to provide pragmatic solutions to illicit drug trafficking law enforcement related-challenges, regional coordination issues and legal matters that can arise in investigating cross-border cases.

The ECOWAS states are expected during the conference to review the scope of members’ efforts at domesticating relevant international and regional conventions and protocols (UN, AU ECOWAS, etc.) against transnational/organised criminal activities.

About 70 experts from regional and international organisations such as INTERPOL, UNODC, ECOWAS and the Intergovernmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) are expected to discuss major issues faced by the region with a view to proffering solutions.

UNODC has been providing technical assistance to West African states for 20 years through its Regional Office for West and Central Africa (ROSEN) in Dakar, Senegal and 10 other local offices in different countries within the region.