UNODC Advanced Maritime Law Enforcement Training Law enforcement officers better equipped to assist in drug busts at sea |03 December 2016
Maritime law enforcement officers from Seychelles, Kenya and Tanzania have gained more skills on how to contribute successfully to the prosecution of drug traffickers interdicted at sea.
Yesterday they received their certificate after completing an Advanced Maritime Law Enforcement training programme organised by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
The certificate presentation ceremony took place at the REFLECS3 centre at the former Seychelles Coast Guard jetty at Bois de Rose.
The two-week intensive training, designed to improve delegates’ skills to assist in the successful prosecution of drug trafficking interdictions at sea, was funded by the Japanese government and implemented by UNODC’s Global Maritime Crime Programme.
It was supported by UNODC, the Japanese Coast Guard, US Coast Guard, Seychelles Police Force, Seychelles Coast Guard, Kenya Police Service, Tanzania Police Force and Combined Maritime Forces.
It was the Minister for Home Affairs, Mitcy Larue, who presented the certificates to the delegates in the presence of Dr Patrick Herminie, the secretary of state responsible for the Prevention of Drug Abuse and Rehabilitation; Commander CTF-151, Commodore Muhammad Shuaib Si; Seychelles Commissioner of Police, Reginald Elizabeth; Chief of Staff Military HQ, Michael Rosette; Commanding Officer Seychelles Coast Guard, Simon Dine; Officer Commanding Maritime Police Unit Kenya, John Katumo; Shanaka Jayacekera, UNODC Coordinator on Maritime Crime for the Indian Ocean region and other officials of the Seychelles Police, UNODC and coastguards.
Before the certificate presentation, there was a demonstration at the jetty where the delegates where shown and explained the procedure undertaken when apprehending a suspected boat involved in maritime crimes like having drugs on board or bringing the substance into the country.
In her address, Minister Larue said the drug issue is a national one and concerns all of us and that the government of Seychelles remains committed to addressing the issue through new policies, engagement of all stakeholders, proper revisions of laws and strategies.
She recognised and acknowledged that the fight against drug is not and will not be an easy one but one we all have to undertake together for the sake of our country and our children.
“Our government is not only committed to having drug dealers, importers, and traffickers behind bars, but we are also committed and very much concerned with minimising the risks and opportunities for such undertakings in our seas and on our open shores,” said the minister.
She remarked the government is not only concerned with the victims of drugs and those struggling to fight addiction, but also wishes to have able-bodied young men and women contributing positively in our economy and community. She said the training was not only directed to drug offences across our seas but also offences that can be committed.
“These programmes and many more to come, will better equip all law enforcement officers to better protect our way of life, on the sea, our beautiful shores and our country,” she said.
The course was developed to build capacity within maritime police units in the region to increase the effectiveness of the fight against heroin trafficking via the ‘southern route’. High seas interdictions of large quantities of heroin trafficked from Afghanistan to the east Coast of Africa have increased markedly over the last few years.
The Maritime Law Enforcement training concentrated on practical Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS) training, with a focus on correct procedure for evidence collection at its forefront. This practical training benefitted from the use of Seychelles’ REFLECS3 centre and access to a seized fishing dhow at the old coast guard jetty. Accesses to the dhow strengthened the training’s practical exercises as it provided an opportunity for the delegates to search an actual drug trafficking vessel.
