UNODC & Partners Protect Maritime Trade Routes in the Indian Ocean

© UNODC / GMCP
Mombasa ( Kenya ), 4 February 2021 — Over the past few years, nautical trade routes along the indian Ocean have become critical to the economic development and prosperity of the ‘ Global South ’. Although facilitating international trade and department of commerce between East Africa, the Middle East and South/Southeast Asia ; these routes have besides been exploited by condemnable syndicates to transport illicit goods —namely narcotics, forge products and CITES-protected wildlife .
The gaps in maritime law enforcement, under conformity with international condom and security standards, arsenic well as insufficient regional cooperation, have all constituted exacerbate factors that continue to render the region ’ mho seaports highly vulnerable to illegal traffic .
however, a serial of trainings being held through the Port Security and Safety of Navigation Programme in the seaport of Mombasa, promise to change that.

Through its Global Maritime Crime Programme ( GMCP ) and Container Control Programme ( CCP ), UNODC joined forces with the European Union to support the coach of maritime, larboard, customs and police administrations, equally well as other stakeholders responsible for nautical and port security system and safety across nine countries in the region, over the future four years .
The beginning of a series of trainings under the broadcast was formally inaugurated last week. “ In this run, we focus on inter-agency cooperation and an integrated, multi-agency overture to port security. Inter-agency collaboration is key to improve security in the port environment, ” explained UNODC GMCP adept, Mr. Scott Anbuen Naidoo.

More than 30 officers from different nautical law enforcement bodies —including Maritime Law Enforcement, Port State Control, Kenya Port Security, Kenya Port Authority, Kenya Revenue Authority, Kenya Maritime Authority and Kenya Wildlife Service— joined the train. The occasion granted a space through which to create synergies and build a firm ground for closer future cooperation.

“ From the discovery of criminal activities in the seaport or within home waters to the prosecution of the suspect authors, this coach has very broadened our setting in the whole crime scene process, ” said a participant and Team Leader from the Kenya Revenue Authority, Mr. Khamis Mbarak .
The origin phase began in 2020, with field visits and virtual meetings with national counterparts where the modalities for implementing the Port Security and Safety of Navigation Programme were discussed at duration .
Over the coming years, UNODC will be implementing the EU Port Security and Safety of Navigation Programme in the follow nine countries : Angola, Comoros, Kenya, Mozambique, Madagascar, Mauritius, Namibia, Seychelles and Tanzania. The project will be rolled out in conclusion collaboration with the International Maritime Organization ( IMO ), INTERPOL and the World Customs Organization ( WCO ) — under the coordination of the indian Ocean Commission .