President Bola Tinubu is leading a charge against the global menace of drug trafficking. He will be joining delegates from 54 African nations at the upcoming 31st meeting of Heads of National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies, Africa, scheduled for September 26, 2023, in Abuja.
Central to the discussions will be measures on curbing cannabis cultivation, dealing with trends like asset forfeiture, and the intricate relationships between cryptocurrency, money laundering, and drug cartels.
The announcement of this summit came during a press briefing in Abuja on September 19, 2023, where officials from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) addressed the media.
Shadrach Haruna, Secretary to the NDLEA, revealed the nature and intent of the HONLAF meeting. “This annual event is a platform for African nations to collaborate, share intelligence, and jointly strategize against international drug syndicates that threaten the region,” Haruna explained.
The upcoming conference will span from September 26 to September 29 and promises to be a busy one with technical sessions, paper presentations, deliberations, workshops, and bilateral discussions among member nations.
“Nigeria has the unique privilege of chairing and hosting this pivotal gathering. This means Abuja will welcome representatives from across the African continent, along with observers from outside the continent,” Haruna added.
On the significance of the summit, Dr. Oliver Stolpe of the UNODC remarked, “The HONLAF meeting will focus on cooperative strategies to reduce the illicit production and cultivation of narcotics. We’ve seen commendable efforts by the NDLEA in Nigeria in tackling cannabis farms and even the production of synthetic drugs like methamphetamine.”
Dr. Stolpe also highlighted that the meeting would delve into the financial aspects of drug trafficking, notably the role of cryptocurrencies and methods to trace and confiscate drug trade proceeds.
The summit’s opening ceremony will also see the UNODC and the National Institute of Security Studies present an in-depth report on organized crime trends posing threats to Nigeria.
Peoplesmind
