Africa Increased Drug Abuse Throughout the Region, Particularly in East Africa and Southern Africa
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REPORT OF THE INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL BOARD III. Analysis of the world situation A. Africa increased drug abuse throughout the region, particularly in East Africa and Southern Africa. 1. Major developments 321. Concerns that the illicit manufacture of 317. In 2011, a number of countries in North Africa amphetamine-type stimulants might take hold in underwent social and political change. For example, West Africa were confirmed by the seizure of a Egypt, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya22 and Tunisia large methamphetamine laboratory in Lagos in experienced political revolutions aimed at establishing June 2011. Nigeria is at risk of becoming a hub for the democratic societies. During such revolutions, there is a smuggling of amphetamine-type stimulants, notably risk of drug traffickers exploiting periods in which drug methamphetamine. In 2010, Nigerian authorities seized law enforcement is weakened. two shipments of amphetamine and methamphetamine totalling 63 kg. One shipment was being sent via 318. While cannabis remains the most widely cultivated, South Africa to the United States of America, and the trafficked and abused drug in Africa, the smuggling of other was en route to Japan. cocaine from South America through Africa and into Europe has emerged as a major threat. The amount of 322. The countries in the Horn of Africa are enduring cocaine trafficked via Africa seemed to decrease in 2008 the worst drought in more than half a century and are at and 2009; however, there are indications that traffickers risk of experiencing massive famine. The food crisis in have simply modified their modus operandi, finding new countries such as Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia will leave methods for smuggling cocaine through West Africa that millions of people in need of humanitarian aid and entail concealing the drug in maritime cargo containers. medical care. The Board requests all Governments to The increasing number of large seizures of cocaine cooperate in facilitating the supply of medicines hidden in such containers in or en route to West African containing controlled substances to the affected countries countries in 2010 and 2011 is evidence of that in East Africa. development. Reports indicate increasing levels of abuse of cocaine in some countries affected by such trafficking. 2. Regional cooperation 319. The Security Council has recognized the threat 323. The African Union is implementing its Plan of posed by drug trafficking, which is undermining Action on Drug Control and Crime Prevention development, stability and security in West Africa. A (2007-2012). The Commission of the African Union is number of special sessions of the General Assembly have working on the main components for the Plan of Action been convened to address the issue of drug trafficking. In on Drug Control and Crime Prevention December 2010, the Secretary-General reiterated his (2013-2018), to be submitted to the African Union appeal to the international community to step up its Conference of Ministers for Drug Control and Crime support for regional endeavours on combating the threats Prevention at its fifth session, to be held in Addis Ababa to peace and security as a result of trafficking in drugs in 2012. and cross-border crimes.23 324. At the fourth session of the African Union 320. Heroin enters Africa through airports and seaports Conference of Ministers for Drug Control and Crime in East Africa. From there, it is smuggled, either directly Prevention, held in Addis Ababa from 28 September to or via West Africa, into Europe and other regions. In 2 October 2010, ministers agreed to give priority to the 2011, record seizures of heroin were effected in Kenya following activities: strengthening cooperation and and the United Republic of Tanzania. Heroin is also coordination in the fight against drugs and crime; smuggled via Mozambique into South Africa, where it is harmonizing drug control legislation of member States by abused by the local population or smuggled into other 2012; improving control over precursor chemicals; countries in Southern Africa and elsewhere. The exploring the need for an African training facility for the increasing flow of heroin entering Africa has led to treatment of drug dependence; and strengthening the African Union’s Continental Early Warning System. In a __________________ statement presented to the Conference of Ministers, the 22 Since 16 September 2011, “Libya” has replaced “Libyan Arab President of the International Narcotics Control Board Jamahiriya” as the short name used in the United Nations. emphasized the need for regulatory aspects of drug 23 “Report of the Secretary-General on the activities of the control to be addressed by African States. United Nations Office for West Africa” (S/2010/614), para. 74. 44 CHAPTER III. ANALYSIS OF THE WORLD SITUATION 325. While participating in the World Health Assembly psychotropic substances, and improved sharing of in Geneva in May 2011, the President of information between law enforcement agencies. the Board presented to a meeting of ministers of health 330. The Twenty-first Meeting of Heads of National from the WHO African Region a statement on the Drug Law Enforcement Agencies, Africa, was held in availability of internationally controlled drugs for medical Addis Ababa in September 2011. The Meeting agreed on and scientific purposes. action to counter drug trafficking, including by using 326. The efforts of member States of the Economic controlled delivery operations, and the diversion of Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to prevent precursor chemicals in Africa, particularly substances drug trafficking and abuse are coordinated within the used in the illicit manufacture of amphetamine-type framework of the ECOWAS action plan against drug stimulants. trafficking, organized crime and drug abuse. At a meeting 331. Cooperation between police drug law enforcement of the West African Police Chiefs Committee, a units of East African Community member States specialized institution of ECOWAS, held in Abuja in (Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and the United May 2011, ECOWAS member States agreed to combine Republic of Tanzania) is well established. As follow-up to their efforts to step up the fight against crime, at the a conference of the Eastern African Police Chiefs national and international levels, and to encourage their Organization held in December 2010, a workshop was police forces to cooperate with INTERPOL. held in Nairobi in June 2011 on the concept of units for 327. The West African Coast Initiative (WACI), fighting transnational organized crime. Representatives of launched in 2009 to support the implementation of the Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mauritius, Uganda and the operational component of the ECOWAS action plan in United Republic of Tanzania participated in the Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia and Sierra Leone, workshop. The participants agreed to work towards the held a high-level policy meeting in Dakar in June 2011. At establishment of such units in their countries. the meeting, all four WACI member States were 332. INTERPOL organized a workshop on international represented at the ministerial level. The ECOWAS and regional cross-border operations, in cooperation with Commission, United Nations agencies and INTERPOL the Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Cooperation were also represented at the meeting. Plans are being Organization in Harare in June 2011. Participants in the made to expand the membership of WACI to include workshop analysed current and emerging crime trends in Guinea. Southern Africa and discussed drug law enforcement 328. Important international initiatives were undertaken operational techniques, in particular controlled delivery. in 2011 to counter the smuggling of cocaine across the 333. UNODC addresses problems related to drug Atlantic. The Group of Eight held a ministerial meeting in trafficking and abuse and organized crime in Africa Paris in May 2011. The meeting was attended by through integrated subregional programmes. Such representatives of 22 countries, including several West programmes were put in place for the countries of North African countries (Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal), and Africa, West Africa and East Africa in 2009 and 2010. A ECOWAS. The participants adopted a political similar programme is currently being developed, in declaration and action plan for strengthening cooperation with the Southern African Development international cooperation, including in the areas of Community (SADC), for the countries of Southern information-sharing, intercepting shipments at sea and Africa. coordinating technical assistance. Furthermore, the Trans-Atlantic Symposium on Dismantling Transnational 334. The second phase of the UNODC Airport Illicit Networks was organized by the United States and Communication Project (AIRCOP) was launched in the European Union in Lisbon in May 2011 to strengthen January 2011. AIRCOP, which is conducted in international and interregional cooperation between West cooperation with INTERPOL and the World Customs Africa, Europe and the Americas. Organization, is aimed at establishing an international communication network among specialized units along 329. The 21st African Regional Conference of trafficking routes leading from South America and the INTERPOL was held in Gaborone in February 2011. The Caribbean through Africa to destination countries in Conference was attended by senior law enforcement Europe. In June 2011, a meeting of the AIRCOP Steering officials from countries throughout Africa.